The warning signs
Almost every scam has at least one of these:
- Pressure to act now: “your account has been compromised”, “you’ll be arrested”, “the offer ends today”.
- A request to move money, often to a “safe account”, or to pay by bank transfer, gift card or crypto.
- A request for a code, password or PIN. One-time codes are for you alone.
- Contact out of the blue, by text, call, email or social media, even if it looks official.
- Something too good to be true: guaranteed returns, a prize you didn’t enter, easy money.
- Being told to keep it secret or to lie to your bank about why you’re paying.
The Take Five campaign sums it up: stop and take a moment, challenge the request (“could this be fake?”), and protect yourself by contacting your bank on 159 if you’re unsure.
Common scams in the UK
| Scam | How it works |
|---|---|
| Safe account | Your “bank” or “the police” say your money is at risk and you must move it |
| HMRC impersonation | You owe tax or are due a refund, with a link or a threat |
| Delivery and bill texts | A missed parcel, unpaid parking fine or energy refund, with a link to a fake site |
| “Hi Mum” messages | A “child” on a new number needs money urgently for a bill |
| Investment and crypto | Online ads, or a copy of a real firm, promise high returns; you can’t get your money out |
| Courier fraud | A caller says they’re from your bank or the police and sends someone to collect your card or cash |
| Pension scams | A cold call offers to “unlock” your pension early or move it into an investment that sounds safe |
| Romance | Someone you’ve never met in person needs money urgently |
| Purchase scams | Goods, tickets or pets paid for by bank transfer never arrive |
Cold calls about your pension are banned in the UK, so any you get are almost certainly scams. After a scam, watch out for recovery scams: people who promise to get your money back for a fee.
Protect yourself
- Turn on two-step verification for your bank and email.
- Never share one-time codes, and never move money because someone called you.
- Check the name match when you pay someone new. Your bank checks the name against the account (Confirmation of Payee): if it says the name doesn’t match, stop.
- Check investment firms on the FCA register and Warning List before you pay anything.
- Pay for online purchases by card, not bank transfer. A credit card purchase between £100 and £30,000 is protected by Section 75, and debit card payments can be disputed through chargeback.
If you’ve been scammed
- Call your bank straight away on 159. Speed gives the best chance of stopping the money.
- Report it to Report Fraud (the service that replaced Action Fraud in December 2025) online or on 0300 123 2040 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or to Police Scotland on 101.
- Change your passwords, starting with your email and bank.
- Forward scam texts to 7726 and scam emails to report@phishing.gov.uk.
Getting your money back
If you were tricked into sending a bank transfer from a UK account, your bank must usually refund you, up to £85,000, under rules that started on 7 October 2024. Report it within 13 months of the last payment. The bank can refuse if you were part of the fraud, or if you were grossly negligent, for example by ignoring clear warnings.
If your bank refuses, or you’re unhappy with how it dealt with you, complain to the bank first and then, after eight weeks or once you get its final answer, to the Financial Ombudsman Service, which is free.
Being scammed isn’t something to be embarrassed about: scams are run by organised criminals, and reporting it helps stop them. If it’s left you struggling, see our free money help page.