How to Report Cybercrime and Online Fraud in Guernsey (2026)
Scammed or hacked in Guernsey? Who to call (999 and Guernsey Police), how the Guernsey Cyber Security Centre helps, and how to try to get your money back.
Guernsey is a British Crown Dependency, not part of the United Kingdom, so if you are scammed or hacked here you do not report to UK Action Fraud. You report to Guernsey Police, and the Bailiwick has its own cyber centre, regulator and laws. This guide shows you exactly who to contact, how to preserve evidence, and how to try to get your money back. Act fast: the sooner you tell your bank, the better your odds.
Primary sources: States of Guernsey: scams · Guernsey Cyber Security Centre · Guernsey Financial Services Commission · Office of the Data Protection Authority
On this page
First: stop the loss
- Contact your bank or card issuer immediately. If you sent money or shared card details, call the number on your card or statement, report the fraud, and ask them to stop or recall the payment and freeze the account. For card payments, ask about a chargeback. Our chargeback guide explains how.
- Stop all contact with the scammer. Never send more money to "release" or "verify" funds, and never install remote-access software a caller asks for. That is the scam. Block the number, email and account.
- Secure your accounts by changing passwords, signing out other devices and turning on two-step verification. If you clicked a link, see what to do after clicking a phishing link.
- Keep evidence: emails, texts, payment references, names, numbers and account details.
Who to report to
- Emergency or a crime in progress: call 999 (or 112).
- Fraud and scams: report to Guernsey Police on 01481 222222 or email [email protected]. The general non-emergency switchboard is 01481 725111. Ask for a reference for any bank or insurance claim.
- A cyber attack, hacking or vulnerability: report to the Guernsey Cyber Security Centre (GCSC), the Bailiwick's national cyber body, at gcsc.gg or [email protected].
- Consumer scams can also be reported to Trading Standards at [email protected], and investment or financial-services fraud to the Guernsey Financial Services Commission.
Reporting does not by itself return your money, but it creates an official record and feeds local intelligence. Report even if you did not lose money, because the information still helps stop the next victim.
Getting your money back
Guernsey uses pound sterling (its own Guernsey pound circulates at par with GBP). How you paid decides your options, and speed is everything.
| How you paid | What to do |
|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Call your bank within minutes to try to stop or recall the payment. Ask whether it will reimburse you, and claim. |
| Debit or credit card | Ask your card issuer for a chargeback and dispute the transaction in writing. Card payments carry the strongest protection. |
| Crypto, cash app or gift cards | Rarely recoverable. Report to the platform and the police at once, and beware "recovery agents" who contact you, that is usually a second scam. |
The UK's mandatory bank-transfer reimbursement rules apply to UK payment firms, not automatically to Guernsey, so do not assume an automatic refund. Report, claim from your bank, and escalate a refused claim through its complaints process.
Scams that hit Guernsey
Guernsey Police and the GFSC have warned repeatedly about:
- Remote-access and tech-support scams, where a caller persuades you to install software that hands them control of your device and accounts.
- Impersonation phishing by phone, text and email, including fraudsters posing as the GFSC or a licensed firm.
- Investment, banking and pension fraud, often through bogus financial institutions. See how the messaging works in our explainer on how phishing works and how to stop it.
The law and your data
Computer offences in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, such as unauthorised access to a computer, are dealt with under the Computer Misuse (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 1991. Your personal data is protected by the Data Protection (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 2017, regulated by the Office of the Data Protection Authority, which organisations must notify of a serious breach within 72 hours.
FAQ
Can I report to UK Action Fraud from Guernsey?
No. Guernsey is a Crown Dependency with its own police and laws. Report fraud to Guernsey Police, and cyber attacks to the Guernsey Cyber Security Centre.
My email or social media was hacked. Who do I tell?
Secure the account first: change the password, sign out other devices and turn on two-step verification. Report the incident to the GCSC, and to Guernsey Police if money, identity or business communications were affected.
I only got a suspicious message and lost nothing. Should I still report?
Yes. Reporting scam calls, texts and emails helps the police and the GCSC warn others and track offenders. Block the sender and keep a screenshot.
Sources: States of Guernsey (scams) · Guernsey Cyber Security Centre · Guernsey Financial Services Commission · Computer Misuse (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 1991 · Office of the Data Protection Authority
If you have been targeted, you are not alone. See our country-by-country cybercrime help hub for step-by-step reporting and recovery guides.