There are endless scams, but they typically fall into a set of categories which determine how and who you can report them to.
Below is the information relating to the UK, but you will need to seek out the relevant contacts if you are in another country.
If you have transferred money to the scammer in the last 24 hours, tell the police immediately by calling 101 or report online at www.police.uk/pu/contact-the-police/report-a-crime-incident/.
Generally, the Police prefer non immediate scams to be reported to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or online at https://reporting.actionfraud.police.uk
1. Report an online scam
This is any scam that uses social media, email or websites.
To report a scam email – forward the message to [email protected].
You should report an online scam advert to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) at www.asa.org.uk/make-a-complaint/report-an-online-scam-ad.html
You can also report a scam advert to the website where you saw it.
If the scam involves financial services – cryptocurrency, investments, insurance or pensions, report it to the Financial Conduct Authority at www.fca.org.uk/consumers/report-scam-unauthorised-firm
If you think you’ve been scammed into transferring your pension, contact your pension provider immediately. Then get in touch with The Pensions Advisory Service at www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/contacting-us
Identity Theft – contact the real company or person to let them know their name is being falsely used.
Any scam using the name HMRC should be reported to them at www.gov.uk/report-suspicious-emails-websites-phishing/report-hmrc-phishing-emails-texts-and-phone-call-scams
2. Reporting an offline scam
This is usually postal or door-to-door scams and can include telephone and text message scams.
You can report these scams to Citizens Advice Bureau at
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/report-to-trading-standards/
Trading Standards gathers information about scams so they can take legal action against scammers.
3. Royal Mail
Royal Mail investigates postal scams. If you’ve received something in the post you think is a scam, download the scam mail report form at https://personal.help.royalmail.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/303
Then send the scam mail and the report to ‘Freepost Scam Mail’ or you can call Royal Mail and ask for a pre-paid envelope and the form. You can just email Royal Mail if appropriate.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0800 011 3466
4 Action Fraud
Action Fraud collect scam reports and collate the data and where relevant give the information to the Police or other authorities to follow-up on criminal behaviour.
They can get the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau to investigate some scams. They’ll also give you a crime reference number, which can be helpful if you need to tell your bank you’ve been scammed.
It’s quickest to report a scam to Action Fraud online at www.actionfraud.police.uk/reporting-fraud-and-cyber-crime but you can also report the scam by phone on 0300 123 2040
