Scammed in the UK? Call your bank on 159 nowthen report at reportfraud.police.uk
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United Kingdom

Scammed in the UK? Do this now.

Act fast: the sooner your bank knows, the better the chance of stopping the payment. Then report it, so police can link it to other cases.

1 · Straight away
159

Call your bank on 159

If you think someone is trying to trick you into handing over money or personal details, stop, hang up and call 159. It connects you safely to your own bank (more than 99% of UK current accounts).

Stop Scams UK · source

2 · Report it
0300 123 2040

Report Fraud

Report fraud and cyber crime at reportfraud.police.uk or by phone (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). Report Fraud replaced Action Fraud in December 2025.

reportfraud.police.uk · source

In Scotland
101

Call Police Scotland

If you live in Scotland, report fraud and cyber crime to Police Scotland on 101.

Police Scotland · source

Scam text or email?
7726

Forward it

Forward scam texts to 7726 (free on every network). Forward scam emails to report@phishing.gov.uk.

National Cyber Security Centre · source

Print a one-page safety sheet for a bank branch, library, community group or relative.

Scam script

The 'safe account' call

Your bank and the police will never ask you to move your money.

1

The call

Someone phones, claiming to be from your bank or the police.

Warning signAn unexpected call from your 'bank' or 'the police'.
Break the chainHang up. Call your bank back on 159 so you reach the real one.

Source: Take Five · issuer advice (as reported)

2

The pressure

You are told there is a problem with your account and that you must act quickly, and to keep the call secret.

Warning signBeing rushed, or told to keep the call secret.
Break the chainStop. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.

Source: Take Five · issuer advice (as reported)

3

The request

You are asked to move money to a 'safe account', withdraw cash, or hand over your card, PIN or valuables.

Warning signAny request to transfer money to another account, withdraw cash for 'safe-keeping', or hand over cards or PINs.
Break the chainA bank or the police will never ask for this. Refuse, hang up, and call your bank on 159.

Source: Take Five · issuer advice (as reported)

Scam script

The investment scam

High returns, little risk, and no time to check.

1

The approach

Someone contacts you out of the blue by phone, email, text, WhatsApp or social media, or you see an online advert, sometimes with a celebrity's name on it.

Warning signAn unexpected contact, or an advert that uses a celebrity endorsement.
Break the chainDon't reply or click. Look the firm up yourself and check it independently.

Source: Take Five · issuer advice (as reported)

2

The promise

You are promised high returns with little risk.

Warning signHigh returns with little risk.
Break the chainChallenge it: could it be fake? It is fine to refuse or ignore it.

Source: Take Five · issuer advice (as reported)

3

The pressure

You are pushed to transfer money quickly, before you have had time to check, and asked to keep it secret.

Warning signPressure to pay quickly and keep the offer secret.
Break the chainStop. Don't pay until you have checked the firm independently. If you have already paid, contact your bank at once.

Source: Take Five · issuer advice (as reported)

Published figures, 2025

How big the problem is

UK Finance is the banking industry body. Its figures cover payment fraud reported by its member banks and card companies; they are not police or government statistics.

about £1.28 billionpayment fraud losses (unauthorised and authorised) (2025)UK Finance · verified against source · Stated as £1.28 billion, up 4% on 2024
more than 4 millionfraud cases (2025)UK Finance · verified against source · Stated as more than four million cases
about 3.81 millionunauthorised fraud cases (2025)UK Finance · verified against source · Stated as 3.81 million cases, up 11% on 2024
£576.4 millionauthorised push payment (APP) scam losses (2025)UK Finance · verified against source · Up 19% on 2024; 32% of all losses
248,070authorised push payment (APP) scam cases (2025)UK Finance · verified against source
about £1.68 billionunauthorised fraud prevented by banks (2025)UK Finance · verified against source · Stated as £1.68 billion: 70p of every £1 attempted

Where the £1.28 billion went (2025)

Unauthorised payment fraud: £703.4m£703.4mUnauthorised payment fraudAPP scams: £576.4m£576.4mAPP scamsInvestment scam: £221.5m£221.5mInvestment scam

Investment scams are part of the authorised push payment (APP) total. Source: UK Finance.

Scam types, losses in 2025

Investment scam: £221.5m£221.5mInvestment scamPurchase scam: £118.1m£118.1mPurchase scamRomance scam: £39.2m£39.2mRomance scam

Three of the APP scam types UK Finance reports. Remote purchase card fraud, a different kind (stolen card details), cost £423.5 million. Source: UK Finance.

What is changing

What the latest reports say

Findings as reported from the publications below. Each links to where it was reported.

Scams that start online are growing. About two in three authorised push payment (APP) cases began online (66%) and 17% through telecoms networks.

Source: UK Finance report, as covered by Payment Expert

Purchase, investment and romance scam losses were the highest on record. Investment scam losses rose 40% and romance scam losses 23%.

Source: UK Finance report, as covered by Payment Expert

Impersonation scams, invoice and mandate scams and CEO fraud fell to record lows. Impersonation losses fell 12%.

Source: UK Finance report, as covered by Payment Expert

The Payment Systems Regulator reports that 89% of in-scope APP fraud was reimbursed to victims in the first 15 months of its reimbursement rules.

Source: Payment Systems Regulator

Latest official warnings

CYFINARA does not copy these feeds; follow the links for the current alerts.

Not in United Kingdom?

The same script works everywhere: an urgent contact, a trusted name, pressure to act alone, and a request to move money.

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