Report Fraud is the official police service for reporting fraud and cyber crime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It replaced Action Fraud on 4 December 2025: report online at reportfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040. If you live in Scotland, report to Police Scotland on 101 instead. If money has left your account, call your bank first, then report.
Updated 3 October 2026 · Sources: Report Fraud, City of London Police, GOV.UK, NCSC, Ofcom, Payment Systems Regulator, Stop Scams UK, ONS · Next review: January 2027
Hang up and call your bank on 159 or the number on the back of your card, ideally from a different phone. If someone is threatening you, is at your door or you are in danger, call 999.
What is Report Fraud?
Report Fraud is the national reporting service for fraud and cyber crime, run by City of London Police. It went live on 4 December 2025 and replaced Action Fraud for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Reports go to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, which decides whether to send them to a police force. People in Scotland report to Police Scotland.
What should I do first if I\'ve been scammed?
Contact your bank straight away: call 159 or the number on your card, so they can try to stop or recover the payment. Then change passwords for any account the scammer may have seen, keep every message and receipt, and report the fraud to Report Fraud (or Police Scotland on 101). Do it the same day if you can.
Fraud is one of the most common crimes adults experience. For the wider picture, see is crime going up or down in the UK.
How do I report fraud to Report Fraud?
Report online at reportfraud.police.uk any time, or call 0300 123 2040 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm). Have your bank details, dates, amounts, the scammer\'s phone numbers, emails or website addresses and any screenshots ready. You will get a crime reference number. Start at Report Fraud.
1. Call your bank (159)
2. Lock down your accounts
3. Keep the evidence
4. Report it
5. Report the scam message
6. Follow up
If your phone was stolen and then used to empty your accounts, follow what to do if your phone is stolen as well: theft is reported to the police, not only to Report Fraud.
What happens after I report fraud?
You get a crime reference number straight away. Your report goes to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, which checks whether there is enough information to pass it to a police force or another agency. That decision can take up to 28 days, and Report Fraud tells you the outcome. Not every report is investigated, but each one helps police link cases and disrupt scammers.
Can I get my money back after a bank transfer scam?
Often, yes. If you were tricked into sending money by Faster Payments or CHAPS, your bank or payment firm must usually refund you up to £85,000 if you claim within 13 months. Firms can deduct an optional excess of up to £100, though not for vulnerable customers. If you disagree with the decision, complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Details: Payment Systems Regulator.
Where do I report each type of scam?
Not sure which police number fits? See 999 or 101: how to report a crime and which number should I call?
Can I report fraud to Report Fraud from Scotland or Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland, yes: Report Fraud covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland, no: if you live in Scotland, report fraud and cyber crime to Police Scotland on 101, or 999 in an emergency. The bank, 159, 7726, phishing email and refund rules work the same across the UK.
What are the red flags of a scam?
Frequently asked questions
No. Action Fraud was replaced by Report Fraud on 4 December 2025. If you see old advice telling you to contact Action Fraud, use Report Fraud instead: reportfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040.
Yes. Forward scam texts to 7726 and scam emails to report@phishing.gov.uk so they can be blocked. If you gave away personal or bank details, tell your bank and report to Report Fraud or Police Scotland, as your details may be used later.
Hang up and don’t call back. Then text the caller’s number to 7726 (free; it spells SPAM) so your mobile provider can investigate and block it, Ofcom says. If you gave bank details or paid, call your bank on 159 or the number on your card, then report to Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or, in Scotland, Police Scotland on 101.
Sources
- Report Fraud
- Report Fraud: what happens when I make a report
- Report Fraud: guide to reporting
- City of London Police: Report Fraud service goes live
- GOV.UK: report internet scams and phishing
- NCSC: report a scam text message
- Ofcom: what to do about a scam call, text or message
- Payment Systems Regulator: APP fraud reimbursement protections
- Stop Scams UK: 159
- ONS: Crime in England and Wales, year ending March 2026
- Police Scotland: contact us
General information for the UK, not legal or financial advice. Rules change: check GOV.UK, your bank or a solicitor for your situation. In an emergency, always call 999.
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