Report a scam

If you've been scammed, there are organisations you should report the scam to.

Don't feel embarrassed about reporting a scam – scammers are clever and scams can happen to anyone.

Reporting a scam helps track down and stop scammers. This prevents other people from being scammed.

You should:

• protect yourself from further risks

• gather all the details of the scam

• report the scam

Protect yourself from further risks

Before you report a scam, there are steps you can take to protect yourself from things getting worse. Check what to do if you've been scammed.

When to call the police

Contact the police immediately by calling 101 if:

• the scammer is in your area

• you've transferred money to the scammer in the last 24 hours

If you feel threatened or unsafe call 999.

Gather all the details of the scam

Write down the details of your scam. This will help you remember all the important information when you report it.

Make sure you include:

• who you've been in contact with – write down names, numbers and addresses if you have them

• why you're suspicious

• what information you've shared – for example, passwords, PINs, or bank details

• whether you've paid any money

• how you've paid – for example, credit card or bank transfer

Report the scam

You should report the scam. This increases the chance of scammers being caught and stopped.

Contact Advice Direct Scotland's consumer service

Report the scammer to Advice Direct Scotland's consumer service. They will:

• give you advice on what to do next

• report the scam to Trading Standards - they might investigate to see if the business has acted illegally or unfairly

If you got a scam email

Forward the email to report@phishing.gov.uk. It will go to the National Cyber Security Centre - they might be able to stop other people being scammed.

If you've been scammed through the post

Royal Mail investigates postal scams. If you've received something in the post you think is a scam, send it to 'Freepost Scam Mail'. Include the envelope it came in and a completed scam mail report. You can download a scam mail report from Royal Mail or call them and ask for a form and pre-paid envelope.

If you've seen a scam advert online

You should report an online scam advert to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

You might also be able to report an advert when you see it. For example, Google, Facebook and Instagram let you tell them about scam ads. If you've done this, you can still then report them to the ASA.

If the scam involves financial services

If the scam involves cryptocurrency, investments, insurance or pensions, report it to the Financial Conduct Authority.

If you think you've been scammed into transferring your pension, contact your pension provider immediately. Then get in touch with The Pensions Advisory Service.

If a scammer is imitating a company or person

Contact the real company or person to let them know their name is being falsely used.

A common imitation scam involves emails, texts or calls that seem to be from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). They might tell you about a tax rebate or ask for your personal information. Report HMRC scams.