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How to report a scam in the UK

Where to report a scam call, text or email in the UK, who to ring first if money has gone, and and the numbers worth saving, 7726, 159 and 0300 123 2040.

The Editors4 min read

A mobile phone showing a keypad, lying on a wooden table next to a pair of reading glasses
Image by Simeworks from Pixabay

Why it's hard to tell

The UK has several places to report, and they do different jobs. One handles texts, one handles emails, one connects you to your bank, and one takes police reports. That can feel like a lot to sort out while you are upset.

It helps to split the question in two. If money or details have already gone, the first call is to your bank. If nothing has been lost, reporting is about helping the system block the message for others.

Common tricks used

  • A caller who says your bank is in danger and asks you to move your money, then discourages you from ringing the bank. Stop Scams UK says that only a fraudster will object to you calling 159.
  • A message that appears to come from HMRC or another government body. HMRC says caller ID is not proof, because numbers can be spoofed.
  • A text that asks you to reply or tap a link. Replying only confirms your number is live.

How to verify, step by step

  1. Money lost or card details given: stop and ring your bank. Hang up on the caller, then dial 159. It connects you to your bank and is run by Stop Scams UK. The service says 159 will never call you. Charges depend on your phone provider. If you are not sure that 159 reaches your bank, ring the number on the back of your card. Our article on hanging up and dialling 159 explains how it works.
  2. Report to the police fraud service. GOV.UK says that if you have lost money or been hacked in England or Wales, report online at reportfraud.police.uk, with an account or as a guest, or call 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, report to Police Scotland.
  3. Scam text: forward it to 7726. It is free, and it reports the message to your mobile provider.
  4. Scam email: forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk. The NCSC investigates these. It says reporting is free, takes about a minute, and can lead to scam addresses and websites being taken down.
  5. Scam calls and websites. The NCSC has separate pages for reporting a scam call, a scam website and a scam advert. GOV.UK says scam adverts can also be reported to the Advertising Standards Authority.
  6. Tax messages. For a suspicious HMRC message, GOV.UK has a reporting page for fraudulent emails and texts, and its call-checking page lists the genuine number HMRC may use. Our guide to HMRC calls goes through this.
  7. If you shared personal details, the NCSC has a page called what to do if you've shared personal information. Change passwords first, and tell your bank if financial details were involved.

Keep a note of the date, the number or address that contacted you, and what was said. Screenshots help.

Things to watch

  • Anyone who contacts you after a scam offering to get your money back. Be wary of any request for a fee up front.
  • Pressure to keep a call secret from your bank or family.
  • Replying to texts to say stop, which can confirm your number is active.
  • Reporting sites that ask for payment. Reporting is free.

If you lost money and are unsure what to do first, a helpful rule is bank, then police, then the rest. For the first hour after a code or access was shared, read what to do after you shared a code or gave someone access.

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