Fraud is a serious problem across the UK. UK Finance reported that criminals stole £1.17 billion through unauthorised and authorised fraud in 2024, while banks prevented £1.45 billion of unauthorised fraud through security systems. It also reported that 70% of authorised push payment fraud cases started online, with a further 16% starting through telecommunications networks.
If you feel overwhelmed, you are not alone. Many victims delay taking action because they feel ashamed or hope the scammer will return the money. However, quick action can help protect your accounts, preserve evidence and improve your chances of recovery. You may also want to consider no win no fee scam recovery support if you are unsure how to deal with banks, platforms or other organisations involved.
1. Stop All Contact With the Scammer
The first thing to do is stop communicating with the scammer. Do not reply to further messages, answer calls, click links, download attachments or agree to send more money.
Scammers often return quickly after the first payment. They may claim there is a “release fee”, “tax charge”, “account unlock fee” or “final verification payment” before they can return your money. This is usually another attempt to take more from you.
You should also be careful of “recovery scammers”. These are people who contact you after a scam and claim they can recover your money immediately, often for an upfront fee. A genuine recovery process should be clear, realistic and properly explained.
2. Contact Your Bank or Payment Provider Immediately
If you sent money from a UK bank account, contact your bank straight away using the number on the back of your card, inside your banking app, or on the bank’s official website. Do not use phone numbers given by the scammer.
Tell your bank that you believe you have been the victim of a scam. Ask them to try to stop the payment, freeze any affected cards or accounts, secure your online banking, and investigate whether reimbursement may apply.
This is especially important for authorised push payment scams, where you were tricked into sending money yourself. From 7 October 2024, new reimbursement protections apply to many UK APP scam payments made through Faster Payments and CHAPS, although the exact outcome depends on the circumstances of the case.
When you speak to the bank, make a note of the date, time, name of the person you spoke to and any reference number. This can be useful later if you need to challenge a decision.
3. Report the Scam to Report Fraud
You should report the scam to Report Fraud, which is the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. You can report online at any time, or call 0300 123 2040 for advice. If you are in Scotland, you should contact Police Scotland on 101.
Reporting the scam helps create an official record. You may also receive a crime reference number, which can be helpful when dealing with your bank, payment provider, insurer or any recovery support service. Citizens Advice also notes that Report Fraud can pass information to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau.
If the scam is still happening and you are in immediate danger, call 999. If it is not an emergency but the crime is ongoing, you can call 101.
4. Secure Your Accounts and Devices
If you clicked a suspicious link, shared passwords, downloaded software or gave someone remote access to your device, you should act quickly.
Start by changing passwords for your email, online banking, social media, crypto exchange accounts and any other account that may be at risk. Use strong, unique passwords and turn on two-factor authentication where possible.
If the scam involved remote access software, disconnect your device from the internet and remove the software. You may also want to run a trusted antivirus scan or ask a reputable IT professional to check the device.
The National Cyber Security Centre advises people to avoid giving out private information, replying to suspicious messages, downloading attachments or clicking links when they are unsure whether something is genuine. It also allows you to report suspicious websites, emails and texts to help protect others.
5. Gather and Save All Evidence
Do not delete messages, emails or transaction records, even if they are upsetting to look at. Evidence can be one of the most important parts of a scam recovery case.
Save screenshots of messages, emails, websites, adverts, social media profiles, phone numbers, wallet addresses, bank details, receipts and payment confirmations. If you used WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, Instagram or email, export or screenshot the full conversation where possible.
You should also write down a simple timeline while everything is fresh in your mind. Include when you first saw the advert or message, what the scammer promised, how much you paid, which accounts were used, and when you realised something was wrong.
If the loss involved cryptocurrency, save wallet addresses, exchange records, transaction hashes and any platform login details. Even if you do not fully understand the technical information, keeping it can help someone review what happened.
6. Check Whether Other Personal Details Were Exposed
Some scams involve more than money. You may have shared your passport, driving licence, National Insurance number, bank statements, utility bills or card details.
If so, consider whether you need to contact your bank, card provider, credit reference agencies or relevant organisations to reduce the risk of identity fraud. You should monitor your accounts for unusual activity and check your credit file for searches or accounts you do not recognise.
If your debit or credit card details were shared, ask your bank to cancel and replace the card. If your email account was compromised, change the password immediately because email access can allow scammers to reset passwords for other services.
7. Do Not Assume Nothing Can Be Done
Many people believe that once money has gone, it is impossible to recover. That is not always true. Your options will depend on how the payment was made, when you reported it, what checks were carried out, and whether any organisation failed to protect you properly.
For example, if you were tricked into sending money by bank transfer, your bank may need to investigate whether reimbursement applies. If a platform, broker, exchange or payment provider was involved, there may be questions about warnings, account checks, fraud controls or how the transaction was handled.
Even if your bank has already rejected your complaint, that does not automatically mean the matter is over. You may still be able to challenge the decision or take the complaint further, depending on the facts.
8. Be Honest About What Happened
When you report the scam, explain exactly what happened. Do not leave out details because you feel embarrassed. Scam cases are often complex, and small details can matter.
For example, it may be relevant whether the scammer pressured you, pretended to be a bank, used fake documents, built a relationship over time, showed fake profits, or told you to ignore warnings from your bank.
Scammers are skilled at manipulation. Being tricked does not mean you were careless or foolish. It means a criminal targeted you.
9. Speak to Claim First About Your Options
If you have lost money to a scam and you are not sure what to do next, Claim First can help you understand whether you may have a route to recovery. Claim First states that it offers a no win, no fee service for scam recovery, with no upfront costs and no fee if the claim is not successful.
You can contact Claim First with the details of what happened, how much you lost, how the payment was made and what evidence you have. From there, the team can review your situation and explain the next steps in clear terms.
Final Thoughts
The first 24 hours after a scam can feel chaotic, but you do not need to solve everything at once. Focus on the most important steps first: stop contact, protect your accounts, report the fraud, contact your bank and save your evidence.
The sooner you act, the better your position may be. Even if you feel unsure, it is worth getting advice before assuming the money is gone for good.
If you have been scammed, contact Claim First today to check whether you may be able to recover your money. Complete the enquiry form or call the team to start your scam recovery review.