When a seller, caller or online advert may have deceived you, where should you report it? Consumer fraud reporting in the UK involves several organisations. A police report records suspected crime; a consumer complaint can alert Trading Standards; and contacting your payment provider may help protect your money. You may need all three.
What to do before making a fraud report
If money has left your account, contact your bank or payment provider immediately using its official app or a trusted phone number. Ask it to secure your account, investigate the payment and consider recovery options. Do not wait for a police reference number.
If you shared a password, change it on the genuine website, secure accounts using the same password and enable two-factor authentication. If someone has access to your device, disconnect it from the internet and seek trusted technical help. Call 999 if anyone is in immediate danger.
Where to report consumer fraud in the UK
England, Wales and Northern Ireland: Report Fraud
For suspected fraud or cybercrime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, use the official Report Fraud service at reportfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040. This is the main police reporting route if you have been tricked into paying, had an account compromised or experienced another fraud-related offence.
Report Fraud replaced Action Fraud on 4 December 2025. Older advice directing you to Action Fraud may therefore be outdated. The service also offers a separate route to flag suspicious messages or websites when you have not lost money or engaged with the scam.
Report Fraud is not an emergency service. If an offence requires immediate police attention, call 101, or 999 in an emergency. In Northern Ireland, the PSNI also advises contacting it directly when prompt action could preserve evidence or prevent further losses.
Scotland: Police Scotland
People in Scotland should report fraud and cybercrime to Police Scotland on 101 rather than through Report Fraud. Use 999 for emergencies. This distinction matters because a search for “report fraud UK” may lead to guidance that does not fit a Scottish case.
When to make a consumer fraud complaint
A criminal report and a complaint about a trader serve different purposes. If an online shop takes payment but never delivers, or a doorstep trader uses dishonest tactics, consumer advice services can explain your rights and pass relevant information to Trading Standards. Not every broken promise is criminal fraud; some cases are civil consumer disputes.
In England and Wales, contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133. In Scotland, Advice Direct Scotland provides consumer advice on 0808 800 9060. In Northern Ireland, Consumerline takes scam and trader complaints on 0300 123 6262. These services can help you decide how to report a scam UK authorities should know about and what remedy to seek.
Trading Standards uses reports to identify patterns and prioritise enforcement, but a report does not guarantee an individual investigation or refund. For related guidance, explore your consumer rights when goods never arrive.
How to report suspicious emails, texts and adverts
You can flag attempted scams even if you spotted them in time. Forward phishing emails to [email protected], used by the National Cyber Security Centre. Forward suspicious texts to 7726, a free service that alerts your mobile provider. Scam or misleading adverts can be reported to the Advertising Standards Authority and the platform displaying them.
Do not click suspicious links to collect evidence. Preserve the original message and take a screenshot if useful. If you paid, disclosed sensitive information or lost access to an account, also follow the relevant police and bank reporting routes.
What information should your report include?
Keep your description factual and chronological. Useful details include the date you saw the offer, the website or account name, phone numbers, email addresses, payment amounts, transaction references and conversations with the suspected scammer. Save receipts, order confirmations and screenshots before content disappears.
Explain what was promised, what you did in response and when you became suspicious. State what you know rather than guessing about the offender’s identity. Provide sensitive evidence only through secure official channels, not public reviews or social posts.
A practical example: the disappearing online retailer
Suppose you paid £180 by debit card for a discounted sofa, received an order email and then discovered the shop had vanished. Contact your bank promptly about a card dispute or chargeback. Save the confirmation, card transaction, website address and messages. Report suspected fraud through Report Fraud in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, or Police Scotland in Scotland. You can also contact a consumer advice service so the trader information reaches enforcement channels. One incident may warrant separate reports because each organisation has a different role.
What happens after you report fraud?
Report Fraud provides a crime reference number, which may help when speaking to your bank or insurer. Reports are assessed for intelligence and possible referral to police; a reference number does not guarantee detectives will investigate your case. Keep confirmations and record any further contact attempts.
To pursue recovery, continue dealing directly with your payment provider. Depending on how you paid, options may include card chargeback, a Section 75 credit-card claim or protections for certain bank-transfer scams. Eligibility differs and no refund is automatic. Our guide to how chargeback works explains one possible route.
If you are unhappy with your bank’s handling of the claim, make a formal complaint. The Financial Ombudsman Service may consider an eligible unresolved complaint, subject to time limits. If personal details were stolen, see practical steps for protecting yourself after identity theft.
Frequently asked questions
Can I report a scam if I did not lose money?
Yes. Report Fraud has a route for suspicious communications and websites, while phishing emails and texts can be forwarded to dedicated reporting services. Reports help identify campaigns targeting others.
Is Action Fraud still the right service?
No. Report Fraud replaced Action Fraud in December 2025 for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland continues to use Police Scotland for fraud reports.
Will reporting fraud get my money back?
Not by itself. A police report records suspected crime, while reimbursement requests normally go to your bank, card issuer or payment provider.
Should I contact Trading Standards or the police?
Potentially both. Report suspected criminal fraud to the appropriate police service and trader misconduct through the relevant consumer advice service. You need not identify the precise offence before asking for help.
Conclusion
Separate three tasks: prevent further loss, report suspected crime and pursue any consumer or payment complaint. Contact your bank first when money is at risk, use the police reporting route for your nation and keep an evidence trail. Prompt reporting cannot guarantee recovery, but it helps protect you and allows authorities to recognise repeat scams.
