What to do if you’ve been the victim of a scam

If a crime is in progress, or you or someone else is in immediate danger, this is an emergency. Call the police on 999.

If you have been scammed, make sure you report it. You may not always be able to get your money back, but you might be able to take steps to stop it happening again – to you or other people.

If you live in England or Wales, scams should be reported to Action Fraud, the national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre. If you live in Scotland, report any scams to Police Scotland.  

You can also report phishing scams or computer viruses that you’ve been sent but haven’t fallen victim to. Phishing is when scammers send fake messages by text, email or social media to get your personal information. They might ask for your bank details or passwords or promise rewards for an upfront fee.

Some scams can also be reported to Trading Standards using the Citizens Advice consumer helpline. Trading Standards looks at cases where companies have acted illegally or unfairly – if they’ve pressured you into buying something you didn’t want or haven’t carried out work on your home properly, for example.

If you've been scammed, it can be extremely stressful. Support is available if you need it. Victim Support is an independent charity that supports victims of crime or traumatic events. When you report a scam to Action Fraud, they will ask if they can pass your details to Victim Support. Victim Support will then contact you to offer free, emotional and practical support. If you live in England or Wales, you can contact Victim Support. If you live in Scotland, contact Victim Support Scotland.

You may also find it helpful to talk to family and friends, or you can contact Samaritans for confidential emotional support.

Take a look at our information on spotting and avoiding scams for tips on keeping your money and personal details secure.

Scammers sometimes target people they know have already lost money to scams. They might claim to be a company that can help to get your money back, but then ask you to pay for their help. Genuine law enforcement agencies will never ask for you to pay them to get back the money you have lost.

Friends Against Scams train people to protect themselves and others against scams. If you want to help or learn, you can sign up online as one of their Scam Marshals.

You won’t always be able to get your money back if you’ve been scammed. You might have more protection if you've paid for something with a credit card. If you think that you’ve been tricked into revealing personal information or banking details, contact your bank using the phone number on the back of your card or on a recent statement. Also contact your bank if you notice activity on your account that you don’t recognise.

MoneyHelper has more advice on getting your money back if you've been the victim of a scam or identity theft.