Learn more about who you should report to and how

Who should I report my incident to?

If you're based in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland

Then you can report to the police right now by visiting the report your fraud or cyber crime page or calling 0300 123 2040

If you are based in Scotland

All fraud and cyber crime reports should be reported locally. Please Contact Police Scotland on 101 to report a fraud or cyber crime.

To report an attempted fraud or cyber crime

Please keep reading this article to find out how to report different types of attempted fraud and cyber crime.

I’ve lost money to a fraud or cyber crime

Inform your bank

If you have lost money or suspect a fraudster has accessed your bank account, notify your bank or payment service provider immediately. They can secure your account and assist in recovering your funds.

Always reach out to them directly using a verified email or phone number, such as those listed on their website or the back of your card, or by calling 159.

Inform other relevant organisations

Additionally, inform any other relevant organizations about the incident and request an investigation. Examples include:

  • An organisation whose name was fraudulently used (such as an energy provider or the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency)
  • The platform where the fraud occurred (such as Facebook or Google)

To report a fraud online, you can make a report using our online reporting tool or you can call us on 0300 123 2040.

I received a suspicious email

Ok, here's what to do next:

  1. Forward the suspicious looking email to [email protected]

  2. Delete the email.

Don't forget, your bank, building society, or mortgage company will never ask you to send money or personal details through an email address.

For more information about these sorts of suspicious emails, visit the National Cyber Security Centre.

I received a suspicious phone call or text message

To report a phone call, simply send a text to 7726 with the word 'Call' followed by the scam caller's number.

To report a text message:

  1. Press and hold the message until the option to 'Forward' appears.
  2. When the 'To' field appears, type the number 7726.
  3. Press send.

Once you've sent it, you'll receive a reply asking you to respond with the scam texter's number – which you can safely do.

To report a message received via a messaging app:

  1. Block the number.
  2. Use the app's reporting feature to notify the platform about the suspicious message.

Your phone or messaging service provider can trace the origin of the text or call and block or ban the sender if it's found to be malicious.

For more information about these sorts of suspicious calls or text messages, visit the National Cyber Security Centre. Click here for information on suspicious texts and here for information on suspicious calls.

I found a suspicious website

If you believe you have found a suspicious website, please report it to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). It's a free-to-use service and only takes a minute to submit a report.

By reporting suspicious websites, you can help stop cyber criminals and protect vulnerable people online.

I'm suspicious of an advert

Online adverts are one of the many modern ways scammers are trying to get hold of peoples' money.

You might have found something that doesn't look right on a website, on a search engine, on Marketplace or another classifieds website. They sometimes use fake celebrity endorsements or offer items at a huge discount and can very often look genuinely real.

If you are suspicious of an advert online, you can report it to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). You may also be able to report fake adverts via the platform you're using.