TL;DR: Action Fraud is the UK's national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime, run in partnership with the City of London Police.
How to Report a Scam to Action Fraud UK — a clear, step-by-step guide to what to do and how long it takes.
Step 1: Go to the Action Fraud website
Action Fraud is the UK's national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime, run in partnership with the City of London Police.
Step 2: File your report online or by phone
Submit details through the online reporting tool, or call the Action Fraud helpline if you prefer to report by phone or need urgent support.
Step 3: Include as much detail as you can
Provide dates, amounts, communication records, and any account or payment details involved — this helps the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau assess and potentially act on your report.
Step 4: Save your crime reference number
You'll receive a reference number after filing — keep this, as banks and other organizations often ask for it when you dispute related transactions.
Step 5: Contact your bank separately
Reporting to Action Fraud doesn't automatically notify your bank, so contact them directly as well to dispute any fraudulent transactions.
If this looks similar to something else you've seen, it's worth reading How to Report a Scam to the Competition Bureau of Canada.
This pattern shows up elsewhere too — see How to Report a Scam to the FBI's IC3.
Frequently Asked Questions
Step 1: Go to the Action Fraud website
Action Fraud is the UK's national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime, run in partnership with the City of London Police.
Step 2: File your report online or by phone
Submit details through the online reporting tool, or call the Action Fraud helpline if you prefer to report by phone or need urgent support.
Step 3: Include as much detail as you can
Provide dates, amounts, communication records, and any account or payment details involved — this helps the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau assess and potentially act on your report.
Step 4: Save your crime reference number
You'll receive a reference number after filing — keep this, as banks and other organizations often ask for it when you dispute related transactions.
Step 5: Contact your bank separately
Reporting to Action Fraud doesn't automatically notify your bank, so contact them directly as well to dispute any fraudulent transactions.