Report a Scam
Scams are one of the most common types of fraud. They can come in many forms but all are designed to trick you to get hold of your money.
Most scams:
- Start through contact you weren't expecting, such as an unexpected phone call, social media message, email or knock on the door.
- Offer exciting advantages to get you interested. They promise things like easy money, great bargains or inside knowledge.
- Eventually lead to a request for money or personal information. Scammers ask you to do things like enter details on a website, answer questions in a survey or pay upfront for what they've promised.
What are common types of scams
Some of the most common types of scams include:
- Phishing - an email scam where you appear to get a message from a legitimate source, such as your bank, building society or Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The email usually contains a link to a fake website that collects your personal information and credit or debit card details.
- Investment scams and pension scams - you're encouraged to hand over money or part of your pension to invest in a company or a product that does not exist.
- Pharming - fraudsters create a fake version of a website where you go to and put in your login details and personal information without realising it.
- Door to door scams - someone knocks on your door and fraudulently takes your money, such as by pretending to be a charity collector or salesperson.
- Dating scams - using online dating websites, scammers communicate with you over a period of time. Once they're confident they've gained your trust, they'll tell you about a problem they have and ask you for financial help.
- Council Tax and Business Rates scams - please remember we do not send texts relating to Council Tax and benefits.
What to do if you've been scammed
If money has been taken from you fraudulently, there are steps you can take to try to get your money back.
- If you paid by credit or debit card, contact your bank or building society to alert them. In certain circumstances, they may reimburse you for the money you lost.
For more information see Money Helper website.
- If you paid for a fraudulent product through bank transfer, contact your bank or building society as they may be able to stop the transaction before it completes.
- Report fraud or cyber crime to Action Fraud website - they may investigate the crime and may be able to recover some of the funds.
- Contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service on their website - if you've signed a contract. They'll be able to offer you advice and may be able to help you find out what legal actions you can take to get your money back.
- If you were scammed by a seller on a legitimate site, contact them directly. Some sites offer a money back guarantee if you fall victim to a fake seller on their site.
How to report a scam
You can report a scam as fraud or cybercrime to Action Fraud who is the UK's national reporting centre for fraud. They will look into your report.
You'll usually get a police crime reference number if you've fallen victim to a scam. You should report anything you think maybe a scam, even if you've not fallen victim to it. You might be able to stop others from being scammed if you report anything suspicious.
You can also report certain types of fraud to us. Fraud is a crime and we need your help to find the people who are cheating the system.
Who to contact
OL16 1XU
Open: Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm