What to do if you've been scammed
Act quickly. The faster you respond, the better your chances of recovering money and preventing further harm. And remember: you are not stupid for being deceived — these scams are designed by professionals to manipulate even careful people.
If you have transferred money or shared bank details: contact your bank immediately using the number on the back of your card, or dial 159.
Immediate steps
- 1
Contact your bank immediately
Call the number on the back of your debit or credit card, or dial 159, the banking fraud hotline. Tell them what happened. Ask them to freeze the account, reverse any transfers if possible, and flag the account for monitoring. Time is critical: banks can sometimes recover same-day transfers.
- 2
Do not contact the scammer again
Do not call back any number associated with the scam. If you gave them remote access to your computer, disconnect from the internet immediately and run a full security scan. Change passwords for any accounts that could have been compromised, using a different, clean device.
- 3
Report to Action Fraud
Report the fraud at reportfraud.police.uk (the new National Fraud Reporting Centre, launched December 2025) or call 0300 123 2040 (Monday to Friday, 8am–8pm). You will receive a crime reference number. Keep this: you will need it for your bank and any insurance claim.
- 4
Report here on WhoIsCalling
Search and report the number on WhoIsCalling.me.uk to warn other people who may receive calls from the same number.
- 5
Gather evidence
Write down or screenshot: the phone number, the time and date of the call, what was said, any reference numbers or names given, and any payments made. This will be needed for your fraud report and any bank dispute.
Getting your money back
Since October 2024, UK banks are required by the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) to reimburse victims of authorised push payment (APP) fraud, where you were tricked into approving a bank transfer. The maximum reimbursement is £85,000. Banks must make a decision within 5 business days.
If your bank refuses to reimburse you and you believe they acted unfairly, you can escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service, which is free to use and completely independent of banks.
If you gave remote computer access
- →Disconnect the computer from the internet immediately.
- →Do not use the computer for banking or sensitive tasks until it has been checked.
- →Contact your bank in case any stored passwords or account details were seen.
- →Run a full antivirus scan, or take the device to a reputable technician.
- →Change passwords for all accounts — email, banking, social media, from a different, clean device.
You are not stupid for being deceived
Being scammed can cause significant distress, shame and anxiety. These feelings are completely normal. Sophisticated scams are designed and rehearsed by criminal organisations specifically to override careful thinking. They exploit trust, urgency and fear. People who are normally very cautious are successfully deceived every day.
Talking to someone can help. Victim Support offers free, confidential support to fraud victims.
Victim Support: victimsupport.org.uk or freephone 0808 168 9111 (24 hours)
Age UK helpline: 0800 055 6112 (Mon–Fri, 8am–7pm): for older people and their families
Citizens Advice: citizensadvice.org.uk or 0800 144 8848