Action Fraud Reporting and Recovery

There are two ways to report fraud to Action Fraud:

• Online: Visit actionfraud.police.uk and complete the online reporting tool. You can report 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This is the preferred method as it allows you to upload evidence. You will receive a crime reference number (NFRC number) by email.
• By phone: Call 0300 123 2040 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm). If you are deaf or hard of hearing, use textphone 0300 123 2050. If you need an interpreter, call Action Fraud and ask — they have access to an interpretation service.

When reporting, you should provide:

• Your personal details (name, address, date of birth)
• Details of the fraud — how it happened, when, and who was involved (if known)
• The amount of money involved
• Any evidence — bank statements, emails, text messages, screenshots, receipts
• Details of any accounts, phone numbers, websites, or social media profiles used by the fraudster

Emergency: If you are in immediate danger or a crime is in progress, always call 999 first. Action Fraud handles reports after the event — they are not an emergency service.

Once you submit a report to Action Fraud, it is passed to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), which is run by the City of London Police. The NFIB:

• Reviews and analyses your report
• Links it with other reports to identify patterns, networks, and high-priority targets
• Refers cases that meet certain criteria to the relevant police force for investigation

You should not expect to hear further from the police about the outcome of your individual report unless your case is selected for investigation. The reality is that many fraud reports do not result in individual investigations — the police focus resources on cases most likely to result in prosecutions and where recovery of funds is possible.

However, your report contributes to the NFIB's intelligence picture. Multiple reports about the same fraudster can trigger an investigation even if no individual report does. Reporting also means you have a crime reference number, which may be useful for insurance claims and bank reimbursement requests.

You will receive progress updates from Action Fraud by email if there are significant developments in your case.

Regardless of whether you report to Action Fraud, you should contact your bank as soon as possible after discovering fraud. Speed is critical — banks can sometimes freeze or reverse transactions if they act quickly enough.

Steps to take with your bank:

1. Call the fraud team immediately: Use the number on the back of your card or call 159 — the Stop Scams UK fraud hotline that connects you directly to your bank's fraud team (supported by most major UK banks).
2. Report the transaction as fraudulent: Tell your bank exactly what happened. If the fraud was on your card (card not present, cloned card, etc.), your bank should refund you under chargeback rules or Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (for credit card purchases over £100).
3. For bank transfer fraud (APP fraud): If you were deceived into sending money yourself, this is called Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud. From October 2024, PSR rules require most banks to reimburse APP fraud victims up to £85,000 — see our guide on Scam Recovery and Bank Reimbursement for full details.
4. Request a chargeback: For debit card transactions, you can ask your bank for a chargeback through Visa or Mastercard's rules.

If your bank refuses to refund you, you can escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), which adjudicates disputes between consumers and banks for free.

In addition to Action Fraud and your bank, consider reporting fraud to:

• HMRC: For tax fraud, PAYE fraud, or scams impersonating HMRC — report online at gov.uk/report-suspicious-emails-websites-phishing or call 0300 200 3300.
• The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA): For fraudulent advertisements on websites or social media.
• The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO): If your personal data has been compromised as part of the fraud.
• Companies House: If fraudsters used a fake company or hijacked an existing company's identity.
• The social media platform or website: Report fraudulent profiles, posts, or listings directly to the platform. Most platforms have dedicated fraud reporting tools.
• CIFAS: Consider adding a Protective Registration to your credit file (for a small fee) — this flags to lenders that you may be at risk of identity fraud, prompting additional checks.

If you believe you have been the victim of identity fraud, also contact the three main credit reference agencies (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) to check your credit file and add a notice of correction or fraud alert.