How to Report a Fraud or Scam in the United Kingdom
Great Britain, England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Island, etc.
If you have observed a scam or been the victim of a scam, spam or fraud in the United Kingdom and want to report it for enforcement, here is a list of where to report different types of scams. In some cases there is more than one agency to contact. Some scams fit into more than one category, also.
Be sure to contact your bank or credit card company if you have given out credit card numbers, bank account information, etc.
And we will track and post more examples, so please forward a copy to us - see the email address at the top of this page or cut and paste the email into our feedback form!
Primary Reporting Agencies
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For scams in general - Consumer Direct
Email to scams@oft.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 08454 04 05 06 - Metropolitan Police, London
- Office of Fair Trading, London
- www.ripofftipoff.net
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For investment scams - Financial Services Authority
Tel: 0845 606 1234
Others
- Report to the UK Information Commissioner for spam originating in the UK. Also see the Advertising Standards Agency, and new guidelines at the CAP
- To report crimes and scams that occurred in or originate from the City of London post codes EC1 - EC4, see this website. The Fraud Desk operates between 0800 and 1800 hours Monday to Friday. It is a telephone-based service to take initial action concerning any fraud within the jurisdiction of the 'square mile' i.e. post codes EC1 - EC4. They will be your first point of contact. (Outside these hours, in an emergency only, call 020 7601 2222). They respond to all initial allegations of fraud, liaise with other forces and agencies, assist with 'in-force' requests for advice and offers fraud prevention advice. City of London Police Economic Crime Unit. Telephone: 020 7601 6999. Fax: 020 7601 2345. Email: frauddesk@city-of-london.pnn.police.uk
- For various types of frauds in the UK:
- ACPO Fraud Prevention
- Benefit -
- Department for Work and Pensions National Benefit Fraud Hotline
- Benefit Fraud Inspectorate
- Business Link
- Companies House
- Consumer Direct
- Credit or debit card frauds - Contact your Bank or Building Society
- Crimestoppers
- Crown Prosecution Service
- Department of Trade and Industry
- European Anti-Fraud Office
- Financial Services Authority
- HM Revenue and Customs
- Home Office
- Information Commissioner's Office
- Insurance Fraud Bureau,
- Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers
- The Lord Chancellor's Department
- Metropolitan Police Service fraud alerts and Advice for tourists
- National Criminal Intelligence Service
- NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service
- National Audit Office
- Phone scams:
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Start by contacting the phone company (British Telecom) and alerting them to the scam.
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The Bureau of Trade and Standards may be more interested:
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Finally, if neither of those groups pay attention, try your local Councilman ) or your MP
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- Revenue and Customs Prosecution Office
- Serious and Organised Crime Agency
- Serious Fraud Office
- Tax Evasion - See the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), Tax Evasion Hotline
- Telecommunications UK Fraud Forum - see the TUFF
- Trading Standards
- UK Police Service
Additional contacts
You may also find this master list of contact information for many different UK government agencies useful.
And please let us know about any suspicious calls or emails you receive. We look for patterns so that we can alert the authorities and victims to new scams, before it is too late!
For a comprehensive list of national and international agencies to report scams, see this page.