How to report fraud to the right UK authorities
Protect your money and accounts first, then use an official reporting route. A community report is a separate step.
Start with immediate protection
If a suspicious call led to a payment or exposed financial details, contact your bank promptly through its genuine app or a trusted number. Explain what happened and which transactions or permissions may be affected. If another account is involved, contact that service through its official support route.
Do not continue following the original caller’s instructions while you seek help. Preserve relevant messages and transaction references privately. If there is immediate danger or a crime is in progress, use the appropriate emergency police route.
Use current official reporting services
Report Fraud is the current UK service named in the official guidance linked below. GOV.UK directs people in England and Wales who have lost money or been hacked through online fraud to Report Fraud. For Scotland, GOV.UK directs people to Police Scotland. If you are in Northern Ireland or are unsure which route applies, check the current Report Fraud and local police instructions for your circumstances.
Reach the service independently. Do not follow a link supplied by someone who calls claiming to be an investigator or fraud-recovery specialist. Reporting arrangements can change, which is why the official links are included here rather than a promise that one route covers every situation.
Prepare the facts
A clear timeline helps: when contact began, the number or account displayed, what was claimed, what you were asked to do and what you actually did. Include transaction information when the official reporting service asks for it, using its secure process.
Separate facts from assumptions. For example, a caller’s claim to work for a bank is a claim, not proof that the bank placed the call. Keep reference numbers from your bank and official reports.
Report messages through the appropriate channel
Suspicious emails, texts and websites can also be reported using GOV.UK and NCSC guidance. These reporting channels do not replace contacting your bank when funds or account access may be at risk.
Warn others without exposing evidence
A moderated community report can describe the pattern for other readers. It is not a police report and does not start a criminal investigation. Leave out sensitive evidence, private identifiers and account details, and keep the fuller record for the official service.
Sources & further reading
- Report Fraud: official reporting service
- GOV.UK: report suspicious messages and calls
- Police Scotland: fraud
For a situation involving money already sent, contact your bank promptly using contact details you trust.
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