How to Report Scams to Action Fraud in UK (2026 Guide)

Action Fraud acts as the central intake point for scam reports across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Reports submitted to the service are automatically passed to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), which analyzes patterns to identify organized criminal networks and block fraudulent bank accounts.

It is important to note that Action Fraud is an intelligence-gathering organization rather than an emergency response unit. They do not conduct immediate physical investigations or arrest suspects directly on the scene. If you are in immediate physical danger, call 999 immediately.

For households facing severe financial distress due to lost funds, seeking immediate emergency help or checking eligibility for local authority hardship grants can help stabilize your household finances while law enforcement processes your report.

Filing a report quickly ensures your claim is logged in the national database and provides the necessary documentation for your financial provider. Follow these critical steps when submitting your report:

• Call 159: Stop any active transfers and contact your bank's fraud prevention team immediately.
• Gather Evidence: Collect bank statements, phone logs, text messages, email headers, and recipient account details.
• Submit Online or by Phone: Complete the 24/7 online reporting tool at actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.
• Record Your Reference Number: Retain your official National Fraud Reporting Number (NFRN) or Police Crime Reference Number for future correspondence.

Under mandatory rules enforced by the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) across 2026/27, UK payment service providers must reimburse victims of Authorised Push Payment (APP) scams up to a maximum cap of £85,000 per claim, subject to reasonable customer care standards.

Banks are required to process valid claims within 5 business days, though they may extend this period to 35 business days if complex evidence gathering is required with law enforcement agencies like the NFIB.

Please note that consumers must confirm official regulatory updates directly on GOV.UK or through the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) before making formal compensation requests.

When a scam exhausts a family's primary savings or income account, keeping up with daily living expenses becomes an urgent challenge. Establishing a temporary secure basic bank account ensures ongoing wage or DWP benefit payments are protected from further compromised access.

If you cannot afford food, utility payments, or basic housing costs following a fraud event, apply immediately to your local council for assistance through the Household Support Fund or localized emergency welfare schemes.

You can also verify your baseline entitlement to underlying state support by using a free online benefits calculator to ensure all available income supplements are active while your bank processes reimbursement.

Scammers frequently target previous victims by posing as fake law enforcement officers, recovery agents, or Action Fraud representatives claiming they can retrieve stolen funds for an upfront processing fee.

Action Fraud, the police, and legitimate financial institutions will never ask you to transfer money to a safe account, pay upfront fees to recover funds, or share online banking passwords over the phone.

If you receive suspicious follow-up contact, terminate the communication immediately and report the details directly through official police channels or the central GOV.UK reporting portals.