Scams, Fraud and Suspicious Messages

Warning signs can include:

• An unexpected request for money or personal information.
• Pressure to act immediately, or being rushed.
• Threats of arrest, fines, account closure or loss of services.
• Being told to keep the matter secret from family, staff or the bank.
• Requests for passwords, PINs or one-time security codes.
• Being asked to move money into a “safe account”.
• Payment requested by gift cards, cryptocurrency, vouchers or unusual bank transfers.
• An offer, prize or investment that seems too good to be true.
• Poor spelling, unusual web addresses, or an unexpected attachment.
• Someone preventing you from checking their identity independently.

Professional-looking messages, telephone numbers, letters and websites can still be fake. A convincing appearance is not proof that something is genuine.

Common examples include:

• Bank and police impersonation scams.
• HMRC and tax-refund scams.
• Parcel-delivery messages asking for a small “redelivery fee”.
• Energy rebate and government-payment scams.
• Fake shopping websites and marketplace sellers.
• Investment and cryptocurrency scams.
• Pension scams, including offers to release money early.
• Romance and friendship scams.
• Recruitment and work-from-home scams.
• Computer support and remote-access scams.
• Charity and disaster-appeal scams.
• Housing, rental and deposit scams.
• Ticket and holiday-booking scams.
• Identity theft using stolen documents or personal details.
• Doorstep scams and dishonest traders.
• QR-code scams, including stickers placed over genuine codes.
• Account takeover using stolen security codes.

Fraud is committed by criminals of every background. No community, nationality or group of people is responsible for scams.

• Do not reply or select any links.
• Do not open unexpected attachments.
• Do not call a telephone number included in the message.
• End suspicious calls — you do not need to be polite or give a reason.
• Find the organisation’s official contact details independently.
• Ask a trusted person to look at the message with you.
• Save evidence, including screenshots and reference numbers, before deleting anything.
• Block the sender after you have reported it, where appropriate.

Caller identification and sender names can be manipulated. A familiar-looking number, or a message that appears inside an existing text thread from your bank, does not prove that the communication is genuine.

You can forward suspicious text messages free of charge to 7726, and forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk through the National Cyber Security Centre’s Suspicious Email Reporting Service.

Scammers may already know your name, address, bank, or details of a recent transaction. This information can be obtained from data breaches, stolen post or previous scams. Knowing it does not prove that the caller is genuine.

A real bank will never ask you to move money, buy gift cards, hand cash or cards to a courier, or take part in a “test transaction” or investigation.

1. Contact your bank or payment provider immediately using its official number.
2. Explain clearly that you believe fraud may have occurred.
3. Ask whether the payment can be stopped or recovered.
4. Change affected passwords using a device you know is safe.
5. Secure your email account first, then financial and shopping accounts.
6. Contact your mobile provider if your number or SIM may have been compromised.
7. Check bank statements and recent account activity carefully.
8. Report the incident through the correct official fraud-reporting service (below).
9. Keep messages, emails, receipts, payment details and reference numbers.

Acting quickly may improve the chance of limiting the damage, but no one can promise that money will be recovered.

Call 999 if someone is in immediate danger, a crime is happening now, or a suspect is nearby. For non-emergency police matters, call 101 or use your police force’s official online reporting service.

A caller may claim that there is a problem with your internet connection, your bank account or your computer, and ask you to install screen-sharing or remote-access software so they can “fix” it or “refund” you.

Never install software or allow remote access following an unexpected call, email or pop-up message, however convincing it sounds.

If you have already allowed someone access:

• Disconnect the device from the internet.
• Contact your bank immediately if financial information was visible on screen.
• Use another safe device to change your important passwords.
• Get help from a trusted, qualified computer-support service.

Do not delete files, reset or wipe the device on the instruction of a stranger — you could lose important information or evidence.

Some scammers spend weeks or months building a relationship — online, by message or by telephone — before asking for money, gifts, investment help or assistance with an invented emergency such as illness, travel costs or a frozen account.

Intelligent, careful and experienced people are deceived in this way every day. Being targeted is not a sign of foolishness.

Do not send money to anyone you have not independently verified in person. If you feel pressured, rushed or uncertain, speak with someone you trust before doing anything.

• Use a different, strong password for each important account.
• Turn on two-step verification wherever it is available.
• Keep devices and applications updated.
• Never share a one-time security code with anyone, for any reason.
• Review privacy settings on social media and messaging apps.
• Check bank and card statements regularly.
• Be careful about the personal information you share publicly.
• Use official applications and websites rather than links sent to you.
• Type important web addresses directly, or use a bookmark you saved yourself.

No protection is perfect. Being targeted, or being deceived, does not mean that someone has been careless.

Possible warning signs include:

• Unusual or repeated payments and withdrawals.
• Secrecy about money, post, calls or a new contact.
• Fear, worry or distress after telephone calls.
• Frequent unexpected calls, letters or visitors.
• A new “friend”, adviser or trader asking for money.
• Unexplained changes in financial behaviour or paperwork.

If you are worried about someone:

• Speak calmly and privately.
• Avoid blame, ridicule or “I told you so”.
• Listen fully before taking any action.
• Offer to help them contact their bank or the appropriate organisation.
• Help preserve evidence such as messages, letters and receipts.
• Consider seeking safeguarding advice from the local council’s adult social care team if exploitation, coercion or abuse is suspected.

Never take control of another adult’s money without proper legal authority, such as a registered power of attorney.

Reporting arrangements differ across the UK and can change. Always use the official route for where you live.

• England, Wales and Northern Ireland: report to Action Fraud, the national fraud and cyber crime reporting centre, online or by telephone on 0300 123 2040.
• Scotland: fraud is reported to Police Scotland by calling 101 (or 999 in an emergency).
• Northern Ireland: see the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the ScamwiseNI partnership for advice and reporting.
• Consumer problems and Trading Standards: Citizens Advice consumer service (England and Wales) or Consumer Advice Scotland.
• Suspicious emails: forward to report@phishing.gov.uk — NCSC guidance.
• Suspicious text messages: forward free of charge to 7726.
• Scam websites: report a scam website to the NCSC or see GOV.UK guidance on internet scams and phishing.
• Financial and investment scams: check the FCA Warning List and read FCA ScamSmart advice.
• Nuisance and scam calls or texts: Ofcom guidance.
• General fraud advice: Stop! Think Fraud (GOV.UK) and Citizens Advice: check if something might be a scam.

Telephone numbers and reporting routes are correct at the time of writing. Please confirm them against the official website before acting, as services are occasionally renamed or replaced.

Fraud can cause shame, anxiety, low mood, anger, sleeplessness and a lasting loss of confidence. Many people feel unable to tell anyone what happened.

The person responsible is the scammer — not you. Criminals use rehearsed scripts, psychological pressure and genuine-looking systems that are designed to work.

Speak with someone you trust, and seek appropriate emotional or mental-health support if the experience is affecting your wellbeing. Our Mental Health page explains how to get help.

• Debt Collectors and Bailiffs — checking whether someone chasing a debt is genuine.
• Benefits & Pensions — official routes for benefit and pension enquiries.
• Solicitors — finding regulated legal help.
• Find Local Services — local support near you.
• Letter Support — help understanding a letter you have received.