What changed
The City of London Police, the national lead force for fraud, launched Report Fraud on 4 December 2025, followed by a full public launch in January 2026. It replaces Action Fraud and the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, with three parts: an online reporting tool and contact centre, a national analysis service that shares intelligence with local police forces, and a victim support service.
How to report fraud or cyber crime
- Online at reportfraud.police.uk, or by phone on 0300 123 2040, if you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
- In Scotland, report to Police Scotland on 101.
- If a crime is happening now or someone is in danger, call 999.
Have the details ready: dates, amounts, how you paid, websites, phone numbers, emails and messages. You should receive a crime reference number, which your bank may ask for.
Other ways to report
- Call 159 to reach the fraud team of most major UK banks safely, if you think you’ve been targeted or have paid a scammer.
- Forward scam texts to 7726, free on most networks.
- Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk, run by the National Cyber Security Centre, which can take down malicious websites.
- Report scam adverts to the platform showing them, and misleading ads to the Advertising Standards Authority.
Getting your money back
Contact your bank first, as quickly as possible. Since October 2024, most victims of bank transfer (APP) scams must be reimbursed by their payment provider, up to £85,000 per claim. Card payments may be recoverable through a chargeback or Section 75. See our scams guide and card disputes.
General information, not legal advice. This post reflects the position on the date shown. Check the official sources below for the latest rules.
Last updated: 14 October 2026
