The UK is one of the better jurisdictions for fraud victims, largely because of the reimbursement framework covering authorised push payment fraud. The framework only helps people who know to invoke it, which is why the sequence below matters.

Your bank, immediately

Call the fraud line on the back of your card or in your banking app. Banks can attempt to recall transfers and contact the receiving bank, and the chance of funds still being there falls by the hour. Ask explicitly: is this covered under APP fraud reimbursement, what evidence do you need, and what is the decision deadline. Record the case reference and the time of the call.

Action Fraud, or Police Scotland

Action Fraud (actionfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040) is the national reporting centre for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, report directly to Police Scotland on 101. Reports feed the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, which assesses them for investigation. Keep your crime reference number — banks and insurers ask for it.

The FCA Register

Before sending money to any investment or financial firm, search the FCA Register at register.fca.org.uk. Fraudulent operations frequently claim authorisation, sometimes cloning the details of a genuinely authorised firm. Check the contact details on the Register itself rather than the ones the firm gave you — clone firm fraud relies on that exact gap. The FCA also publishes a warning list of firms known to be operating without authorisation.

The Financial Ombudsman Service

If your bank rejects your claim or does not resolve it within the statutory period, escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service. It is free, independent, and overturns bank decisions regularly — particularly where a bank failed to intervene despite clear warning signs on the payment. You generally need a final response letter first, or to have waited the required period.

Other channels worth knowing

  • Cyber incidents affecting a business: the National Cyber Security Centre.
  • Misleading advertising and consumer issues: Trading Standards via Citizens Advice.
  • Data breaches involving your personal data: the Information Commissioner's Office.
  • Suspicious texts: forward to 7726. Suspicious emails: report@phishing.gov.uk.

If you are in immediate difficulty

Fraud losses frequently create urgent financial pressure. StepChange and Citizens Advice both provide free debt advice, and if the loss has affected your mental health, speak to your GP or Samaritans. This is a common consequence of significant fraud, not an overreaction to it.