EMERGENCY GUIDE
I've Been Scammed — What to Do Now
Updated August 2026 · By Silent Erase | ICO Registered C1971457
If money has left your account, do this first — before reading anything else.
Call your bank's fraud line. The number is on the back of your card.
Most UK banks also accept 159 — a free, secure number that connects you to your bank's fraud team.
📞 159
Works for most major UK banks. Free from any phone.
If you are reading this you have probably just realised something has gone wrong. Take a breath. Acting quickly matters, but acting in the right order matters more.
First, something worth hearing: this was not your fault. Scammers do this professionally, full-time, with scripts refined over thousands of attempts. Intelligent, careful people are defrauded every single day. Feeling foolish is normal — but it is not accurate, and it should not stop you acting.
The first hour
1
Contact your bank immediately
Call 159 or the number on your card. Tell them exactly what happened — do not minimise it or leave parts out because you feel embarrassed. They deal with this daily. Ask them to attempt a recall of the payment and to freeze anything at risk. Speed genuinely affects whether money can be stopped.
2
Stop all contact with the scammer
Do not reply, do not warn them, do not try to negotiate. Block them everywhere. Anything you say gives them information and an opportunity to manipulate you further.
3
Screenshot everything before you block
Messages, profiles, phone numbers, email addresses, payment references, bank details you sent money to. You will need these for the bank and the police. Do this before blocking, or you may lose access to it.
4
If you gave them remote access to a device
Disconnect it from the internet now. Do not use it for banking. Uninstall any software they asked you to install — TeamViewer, AnyDesk, or anything else. Change your passwords from a different device.
5
If you shared passwords or card details
Change the password on your email account first — it is the master key that resets everything else. Then banking, then anywhere you reused that password. Enable two-factor authentication as you go.
Never move money to a "safe account". No bank, no police officer and no fraud team will ever ask you to do this. If someone is telling you to transfer funds to protect them, that person is the scam — including if they called you claiming to be from your bank's fraud department.
The first day
6
Report to Action Fraud
Call 0300 123 2040 or report at actionfraud.police.uk. You will get a crime reference number, which you may need for your bank, your insurer or any dispute. In Scotland, report to Police Scotland on 101 instead.
7
Report to the platform it happened on
Facebook, WhatsApp, a dating site, a marketplace. Report the profile. It helps protect the next person and contributes to the platform's fraud intelligence.
8
Check your credit reportFree with ClearScore, Credit Karma or MoneySavingExpert's Credit Club. Look for accounts or applications you did not make. How to check → 9
Tell someone you trust
Genuinely important. Fraud victims who keep it to themselves are more likely to be targeted again, and shame is what scammers rely on to stop you reporting. Telling one person breaks that.
The first week
10
Consider CIFAS Protective Registration
£25 for two years at cifas.org.uk. Flags your credit file so lenders carry out extra checks before opening anything in your name. Worth it if identity details were exposed.
11
Push your bank if they refuse reimbursement
Under the mandatory reimbursement rules introduced in October 2024, most victims of authorised push payment fraud should be reimbursed. If your bank declines, ask for their final response in writing, then escalate free to the Financial Ombudsman Service at financial-ombudsman.org.uk.
12
Reduce your exposure to being targeted again
Fraud victims are frequently re-targeted — details get traded between criminal groups on so-called "sucker lists". Removing your data from broker sites, opting out of the open electoral register and registering with the TPS all make you harder to reach.
Expect a recovery scam. Within weeks, someone may contact you claiming they can get your money back for an upfront fee. They cannot. This is a second scam that specifically targets people who have already been defrauded, using lists of known victims. No legitimate organisation charges upfront to recover fraud losses.
Will I get my money back?
Honestly — it depends, and it is worth knowing where you stand.
Bank transfer you authorised (APP fraud)
Under rules in force since October 2024, most victims should be reimbursed, up to a limit of £85,000, with the sending and receiving banks sharing the cost. Report quickly and be completely honest — reimbursement can be reduced where a customer ignored clear warnings, so accuracy matters more than looking careful.
Debit or credit card payment
Card payments carry chargeback rights. Credit card purchases over £100 also have Section 75 protection, which makes the card provider jointly liable. Ask your provider about both.
Cryptocurrency
Realistically very difficult to recover. Crypto transactions are irreversible by design. Still report it — but be wary of anyone promising recovery.
Gift cards or vouchers
Contact the retailer immediately. Occasionally cards can be frozen if the codes have not yet been redeemed. Act within hours rather than days.
Where to get support
Victim Support
Free, confidential, independent of the police. 08 08 16 89 111 — 24/7. You do not need to have reported to police to use them.
Citizens Advice consumer helpline
0808 223 1133 — practical advice on money, disputes and next steps.
Mind
0300 123 3393 — if you are struggling emotionally. Fraud causes genuine psychological harm and it is reasonable to need help with that.
Samaritans
116 123 — free, 24/7, any time. If this has left you feeling desperate, please call them. Fraud losses have driven people to real crisis, and talking to someone helps.
If you are feeling overwhelmed by what has happened, please do reach out to one of the numbers above. The financial loss is recoverable far more often than people assume — and however it feels tonight, this is survivable.
Related guides
• How to report fraud in the UK
- Romance scam recovery
- Identity theft recovery checklist
- What to do after a data breach
- Check if a number has been reported
Reduce the chance of being targeted again
Fraud victims are often re-targeted using data bought from broker sites. Our free tools help you see what is exposed.