My wallet was stolen on the subway, I was defrauded when shopping online, I received a fake "HMRC tax refund" text message and clicked on it, my bank card was stolen... After living in the UK for a long time, I will encounter some troubles. But when it comes time to call the police, many Chinese friends’ first reaction is confusion: Which number to call? What should I do if I can’t speak English? Will reporting to the police affect my visa or permanent residence (ILR) application?
Today I will break down the matter of the British police report and explain it clearly - especially a key change that many people are not aware of: Action Fraud, which has been running for many years, has been replaced.
The first lesson of the British police: Action Fraud has transformed Report Fraud
If you’ve heard old immigrants say they were “scammed into reporting a crime on the Action Fraud website,” this information is now outdated. The new Report Fraud service launched by the City of London Police has been officially launched on in early 2026, replacing the old Action Fraud and becoming the official unified portal for reporting fraud and cybercrime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The old system had a bad rap over the years and was once described by the Parliamentary Justice Committee as a "black hole" for victims to report. The new platform focuses on three things: unified acceptance, intelligent diversion to the corresponding police force, and providing victims with a unified set of national care standards.
🔑 Remember the two entrances: online reportfraud.police.uk and phone 0300 123 2040. The phone number remains the same as the old one, but the website and backend system have been changed.
Should the UK police call 999 or 101? First distinguish between emergency and non-urgent
Not everything has the same number. Reporting an error will not only waste police resources, but may also delay saving lives in an emergency.
999 (Emergency) : Used when a crime is taking place, someone is in immediate danger, the suspect is nearby, or someone is being threatened or injured with violence. For example, if you are being followed, your home is being broken into, or someone is attacking you in the street - call 999 immediately.
101 (non-emergency) : The common non-emergency alarm number in England and Wales, open 24 hours a day, calls are free (no charge for landline or mobile phone). It is suitable for things that have already happened and are not in immediate danger, such as coming home and finding that your car has been scratched, losing something a few days ago, and wanting to inquire about the progress of the case. Most police forces also provide online crime reporting forms and online web chat, which you can use if you don’t want to make a phone call.
👂 Hearing-impaired or speech-impaired people: You can use the text relay service TextRelay by dialing 18001 101 (non-emergency) or 18000 (emergency). If you are not fluent in English, you can directly state it during the call, and the police are obliged to arrange an interpreter.
Who to contact to report fraud in the UK: Report Fraud online reporting process
People who have been defrauded of money by phishing text messages, fake customer service, online shopping, or investment transactions belong to fraud . Usually, instead of going through 999/101, they go through Report Fraud. Before reporting a crime online, collect all the evidence:
📌 Who is contacting you (phone, email, website, social account); 📌 Relevant credentials (email, chat screenshots, transfer records); 📌 How did you pay (bank transfer, credit card, cryptocurrency, etc.).
When reporting a crime online, you can register an account or submit as a "guest". recommends registering for - you can save unfinished reports, track progress, supplement information, and receive email updates. After submission, the report will be sent to the National Fraud Intelligence Agency for evaluation to determine whether there are enough clues to be transferred to a specific police force for investigation.
Additional reminder: If you receive suspicious phishing emails, forward them to [email protected]; if you receive suspicious text messages, forward them to 7726 (free). If your bank card is stolen or used, call the phone number on the back of the bank card immediately to freeze it, and then report the crime.
What you can get after reporting a crime in the UK: Crime Reference Number and victims’ rights
Many Chinese people report a case but nothing happens. In fact, you have clear rights. According to the Victims' Code, after reporting a crime you should get:
✅ An Crime Reference Number (reporting reference number) - This is the official certificate that you have reported a crime. It may be used for insurance claims, replacement documents, and subsequent rights protection. must be recorded and saved ; ✅ Contact information of the police officer responsible for your case; ✅ Instructions on what will happen next and how to obtain progress updates.
In addition, the police should conduct a "needs assessment" on you to determine what support you need; usually you will receive contact from a victim support agency (such as Victim Support) within two days. Victims of the most serious crimes can also request a review of the prosecutor's decision to prosecute. You deserve this, don't be embarrassed to ask.
If I hold a visa and apply for permanent residence ILR, will calling the police affect my identity?
This is the biggest concern and the biggest misunderstanding of the Chinese people. To be clear: going to the police as a crime victim will not damage your visa or permanent residence status. The handling of criminal cases by the police and the approval of the Immigration Bureau are two different systems. Reporting a crime does not mean "reporting" you to Home Office.
On the contrary, the approval of permanent residence (ILR) values good character (good conduct) . What will drag you down is your own illegal record or convictions (such as convictions and accumulation of serious traffic violations), not your reporting as a victim. The newspaper just reports and protecting its legitimate rights and interests is never a stain.
What you really need to be careful about is immigration fraud: fake phone messages from "Immigration Bureau/UKVI", claiming that you have problems with your visa and need to transfer money immediately, or so-called "guaranteed permanent residence". Home Office will not threaten you over the phone to transfer money. If you encounter this kind of situation, calm down first, go to reportfraud.police.uk to report the crime, and check with a licensed lawyer if necessary. You can also use the 永居计算器 APP to calculate your own permanent residence progress to , without having to listen to any "internal expedited" talk.
⚠️ This article is for reference only. Please consult a licensed attorney for specific cases and immigration issues. If personal safety is involved, please dial 999 immediately.
One picture to remember: How to choose a British police report
🚨 Happening now / Someone is in danger → 999
🕐 Happened / Not urgent / Inquiry → 101 or local police report online
💳 Fraud / Cybercrime → reportfraud.police.uk · 0300 123 2040
📧 Phishing email → [email protected]; Suspicious text message → 7726
In a foreign country, knowing how to use the right tools to protect yourself is a sense of security in itself. Save these numbers in your mobile phone memo so you won't be in a hurry at critical moments.
💬 Let’s chat in the comment area: What kind of scams or bad things have you encountered in the UK? How did you handle it at that time? Did you get a Crime Reference Number? Your experience may just help the next compatriot who falls into the trap.
If you find it useful, please forward it to your friends who also live in the UK and are applying for permanent residence - the more people know about the new platform Report Fraud, the less people will suffer in vain.
[Data source] City of London Police "Report Fraud service goes live" (cityoflondon.police.uk), GOV.UK Police and Fraud Reporting Guide, Police.uk "What happens after you report a crime". Please refer to the latest official announcement for specific procedures and fees.