Report a Scam in the UK and Get Your Money Back (2026): Action Fraud Is Now Report Fraud
Scammed in the UK? How to report it now that Action Fraud is Report Fraud, and how to claim your money back under the 2024 bank reimbursement rules (up to £85,000).
If you have been scammed in the UK, two things decide whether you get your money back: how fast you tell your bank, and whether you report it properly. Both changed in the last two years. Action Fraud, the old reporting service, was replaced by "Report Fraud" (reportfraud.police.uk), which fully launched in January 2026. And since October 2024, banks must refund most victims of bank-transfer scams by law, up to £85,000, usually within five working days. This guide walks you through the first hour, how to report, and how to claim your money back.
Primary sources: City of London Police, Report Fraud launch (January 2026) · Payment Systems Regulator, APP fraud reimbursement · Financial Ombudsman Service
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The first hour: freeze the money
Speed matters more than anything else. The sooner your bank knows, the more likely it is to stop or recall the payment.
- Call your bank now. Use the number on the back of your card, or dial 159, the free Stop Scams UK line that connects you securely to most major banks. Tell them you have been scammed and ask them to stop or recall the payment and freeze the account.
- Do not act on the scammer's instructions. If someone is on the phone telling you to move money to a "safe account", that is the scam. No real bank, police force or tax office ever asks you to do this.
- Change passwords for any account the scammer may have reached, starting with your email and online banking, and turn on two-step verification. If you clicked a link, see our guide to what to do after clicking a phishing link.
- Keep evidence. Screenshots, texts, emails, payment references, phone numbers and the scammer's account details. You will need them to report and to claim.
Report the scam (Action Fraud is now Report Fraud)
The UK's national fraud reporting service changed. Action Fraud was retired and replaced by Report Fraud, run by the City of London Police, which fully launched in January 2026 after years of criticism that the old service was not working. Anyone visiting the old Action Fraud address is redirected to the new one.
- Online: reportfraud.police.uk, available 24 hours a day.
- By phone: 0300 123 2040, Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm.
- If a crime is in progress or you are in danger, call 999. For non-emergencies call 101.
You will get a police crime reference number. Reporting does not, by itself, get your money back, but it feeds the national intelligence picture and supports your bank claim. Report even if you did not lose money, because the report still helps.
You can also report the method used against you: forward scam texts to 7726 (free), forward scam emails to [email protected], and report scam websites to the National Cyber Security Centre. For how these scams work, see our explainer on how phishing works and how to stop it.
Get your money back
How you paid decides which route you use.
You sent a bank transfer (the new legal protection)
Most scams where you were tricked into sending money yourself are "authorised push payment" (APP) fraud. Since 7 October 2024, banks and payment firms must reimburse victims of APP fraud by law, not as a favour.
| What the rules say | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who is covered | Payments between UK accounts in pounds, sent by Faster Payments or CHAPS, where you were deceived into paying a fraudster. |
| Maximum | Up to £85,000 per claim. |
| How fast | Within 5 business days, or up to 35 days if the bank needs to investigate. |
| Who pays | The cost is split 50/50 between the bank that sent the money and the one that received it. You claim from your own bank. |
| Deadline to claim | Within 13 months of your last payment to the scammer. |
| Excess | Your bank may apply an excess of up to £100, but not to vulnerable customers. |
There is a catch called the "consumer standard of caution". A bank can refuse or reduce a refund if you ignored a specific scam warning it gave you, acted with gross negligence, or delayed reporting. This does not apply to vulnerable customers. In practice, report quickly and honestly and most genuine victims are reimbursed.
You paid by debit or credit card
Card payments are not covered by the APP rules, but they have their own protections. Ask your bank about a chargeback, and for credit-card purchases between £100 and £30,000 you may be protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, which makes the card issuer jointly liable. Our chargeback guide explains how to dispute a card transaction step by step.
If your bank refuses: the Financial Ombudsman
If your bank rejects your claim or you disagree with its decision, you can escalate for free. First make a formal complaint to the bank and get its final response. Then take it to the Financial Ombudsman Service, which reviews the case independently and can order the bank to pay. You normally have six months from the bank's final response to go to the Ombudsman.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
Report Fraud covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, report fraud to Police Scotland by calling 101 (or 999 in an emergency), not through the Report Fraud portal. The bank reimbursement rules and the Financial Ombudsman apply UK-wide, wherever you live.
FAQ
Is Action Fraud still working?
No. Action Fraud was replaced by Report Fraud, which fully launched in January 2026. Use reportfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040. Old Action Fraud links now redirect to it.
Will I definitely get my money back?
Not guaranteed, but for bank-transfer scams the law now presumes reimbursement up to £85,000 unless the bank shows you were grossly negligent or ignored a clear warning. Reporting fast and keeping evidence gives you the strongest claim.
How long does reimbursement take?
Usually within five business days of your claim, or up to 35 days if the bank needs more time to investigate.
The scammer said they were from my bank or the police. Does that change anything?
No. Impersonation is the most common tactic. Real banks and police never ask you to move money to a "safe account" or share a one-time passcode. Treat any such request as a scam.
Sources: City of London Police (Report Fraud launch) · Payment Systems Regulator (APP reimbursement) · Take Five (APP reimbursement guide) · Financial Ombudsman Service · Stop Scams UK (159)
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.