How to call the police if you are scammed in the UK? Action Fraud has been renamed Report Fraud

Last week, a reader sent a message in the middle of the night: I received a "bank" text message on my mobile phone saying that my account was abnormal. I clicked on it and entered my password. Ten minutes later, more than 3,000 pounds were gone. Her first reaction was to call 999, but she was told "this is not an emergency"; she called 101 again and waited for 40 minutes. When she finally found the newspaper, it was already the afternoon of the next day.

Living in the UK, reporting a crime is not as simple as "making a phone call", but three things: "calling the right number + getting the number + notifying the bank simultaneously". If you get the order wrong, the probability of money recovery will be significantly reduced. Let’s talk through the process today.

What number should the British police call? Division of Labor 999, 101 and Report Fraud

🚨 999 – Someone is in danger, a crime is occurring, and the suspect is still on the scene. For example, a burglary is in progress, being followed, or being physically assaulted.

📞 101 - Non-emergency reporting, open 24 hours a day. If your bicycle was stolen, your car was scratched, your home was broken into a few days ago, and you want to make a report, please go to 101 or the online report on the local police station’s official website.

💻 Report Fraud——As long as it involves "money being defrauded" or "cyber crime", regardless of the amount, do not go to 101, but go to this special channel.

Important changes: Action Fraud, which has been used for more than ten years, was replaced by the new platform Report Fraud on December 4, 2025, and will be fully available to the public from January 2026. Reportfraud.police.uk, 0300 123 2040. Currently covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland; Scotland still dial 101 to report a crime to Police Scotland.

There is no need to worry if you are not fluent in English. When dialing 101 or 999, simply say your language or country name (for example, "Chinese, Mandarin") and the operator will connect you to a professional interpreter. This is a standard service of the British police and is free.

How to report someone who has been defrauded of money in the UK? Golden 24-hour four-step walk

Step one: Call the bank first, not the police. While money is still in the circulation chain, banks have the opportunity to intercept it. Not sure the customer service number is authentic? Dial 159 directly. This is the UK banking industry’s fraud prevention hotline, which will transfer you to your bank’s live customer service.

Step 2: Take a screenshot and save the certificate. transfer records, the other party’s account name and sort code, original text messages, chat records, website links, and the other party’s call number. These must be filled in every column in the report form, as you may miss them if you look for them later.

Step 3: Submit on Report Fraud. The online form takes about ten minutes to fill out. After submission, you will get a Crime Reference Number (report number) , and the progress will be updated via email. This number is the pass for finding banks, insurance, and platforms to make claims later. Be sure to take a screenshot and save it.

Step 4: Manage expectations. Report Fraud does not handle cases itself. It compiles reports for intelligence analysis and then assigns them to local police forces; only some cases will be filed for investigation. So don’t put all your hope in the police—the bank’s line is often the one that can really get your money back. Victims of fraud in England and Wales can also contact Victim Support for free for psychological and practical support.

Can I get my money back after being defrauded in the UK? Bank mandatory compensation rules

This is a hard rule that many people don’t know. Starting from October 7, 2024, the UK will implement mandatory compensation for the APP fraud (Authorised Push Payment, that is, being deceived into actively transferring money) :

💷 The maximum compensation for a single claim is £85,000, half of which will be borne by the transferring bank and the beneficiary bank;
⏱ In principle, the bank should pay within 5 working days , which may be extended to up to 35 days if further investigation is required;
📅 Claims must be made 13 days after the last payment of If submits the request within the month, the bank may reject it if it is overdue.

Applicable to Faster Payments transfers within the UK. Some banks will charge a deductible of up to £100, which may be waived for vulnerable customers. If the bank denies your claim and you don't agree, the next step is the free Financial Ombudsman Service.

Will calling the police with a visa affect my visa or permanent residence application?

This is the most common concern in the Chinese community, and it is also the reason why many people suffer the consequences and remain silent. Let’s be clear: reported the crime as a victim or witness. It is not an immigration violation in itself, and it will not leave a stain on the visa or ILR application. What really affects permanent residence is criminal conviction and good character determination, not "I reported a crime".

If your specific situation is sensitive (for example, your identity is in tatters, you are worried about information sharing), don’t guess, ask for professional advice first. For £5 on justiscript.com, you can get a written response from a practicing British lawyer to a question within 24 hours, in both Chinese and English, which is more reliable than asking ten people in a group.

There is another type of situation that needs to be distinguished: merchants do not refund, landlords withhold deposits, friends borrow money and fail to repay it, renovations are unfinished - these are civil disputes, not criminal fraud, and the police usually do not accept them. The correct first step is to send an Letter Before Action that complies with the CPR pre-action process. For £5 on justiscript.com, you can generate a formal pre-action letter with a law firm's letterhead and signature. Many disputes are resolved the same week after receiving the letter and never go to court.