Falling victim to a scam can be an incredibly distressing experience. In the crucial moments after you realise you’ve been scammed, knowing how to get help is absolutely essential. As specialists in highlighting the latest scams and supporting those affected, we’ve seen first-hand how acting quickly and methodically can make a significant difference to your recovery, both financially and emotionally.
Therefore, in this post, you’ll discover the key steps to take after being scammed, from contacting your bank to seeking help from the police, reaching out to reputable charities, and escalating your case to the Financial Ombudsman.
We’ll also detail services designed to help you recover and regain your confidence. Every section is grounded in real experience and up-to-date best practice, so you can move forward with clarity and reassurance.
First Step – Contact Your Bank
Your immediate action after discovering a scam should always be to get in touch with your bank or card provider. Time is of the essence, fraudsters often move stolen funds quickly.
Why Contact the Bank First?
Banks and building societies in the UK are well-versed in dealing with scams. Whether you’ve given away your card details, or money has disappeared from your account, their fraud departments are equipped to help you:
- Freeze accounts or cards to stop further transactions.
- Investigate unauthorised payments.
- Trace or even reverse fraudulent transfers (if caught quickly).
- Offer advice on safeguarding your accounts from future risk.
What Information Will the Bank Need?
Be prepared to share:
- The date and nature of the scam.
- Details of payments or transfers.
- Any relevant emails, texts, or messages.
This helps your bank build a case and may make recovery more likely.
Remember Your Rights
Under the Authorised Push Payment Scam Code, some UK banks have committed to reimbursing fraud victims in certain circumstances. However, to be eligible, you must let your bank know about the scam as soon as possible
Speak To The Police
While it’s natural to feel embarrassed or hesitant, it’s essential to report the scam formally to the police, even if you think there’s little chance of catching the culprit.
How To Report
- Action Fraud is the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime. You can file a report online or call them directly. They’ll log your details and provide a crime reference number. This is important for any further claims or investigations.
- If you feel threatened or the scam involves ongoing risks to your safety, call 999 immediately. If you have lost money but do not feel at risk, you may need to contact the police on 111.
Why Police Reports Matter
- The police and Action Fraud can collate data on fraud types and patterns, which often leads to wider investigations.
- Your report could help prevent others from falling for the same scam.
- Insurance companies and some compensation schemes may require an official crime reference number for their processes.
Being proactive means more than just seeking justice, it contributes to making life harder for scammers across the UK.
Charity Support
Being scammed can leave you feeling isolated, anxious, or even depressed. But you’re far from alone. Several outstanding charities specialise in supporting scam victims, both emotionally and practically.
Leading Charities for Scam Victims
- Victim Support – Offers free and confidential help, including emotional support, advice, and practical assistance after fraud or cyber crime.
- Citizens Advice – Provides guidance on your rights and options, helping you navigate what to do next, and supporting you in dealing with bureaucratic hurdles or difficult conversations.
- Age UK – Specialises in helping older victims of scams, providing tailored advice and support for those more susceptible to fraudsters.
How Can Charities Help?
Beyond a listening ear, these organisations offer:
- Practical advice on reporting scams and managing finances after fraud.
- Guidance on dealing with emotional trauma.
- Advocacy if you need help pushing your case forward.
Reaching out can make a real difference, not just to recover your losses, but also to rebuild your confidence.
Speak To The Financial Ombudsman
If you’ve reported the scam to your bank and feel the response was inadequate, perhaps your case wasn’t handled seriously, or you’ve been unfairly denied reimbursement, your next step is the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).
What Does the Ombudsman Do?
The Financial Ombudsman is independent. They investigate disputes between consumers and financial firms, often with the power to recommend compensation or enforce reimbursements for victims of fraud.
When Should You Go to the Ombudsman?
- If your bank fails to resolve your complaint within eight weeks.
- If you’re dissatisfied with your bank’s decision about your case.
How to Contact
You can lodge a complaint online, by phone, or via post. Be sure to keep all correspondence with your bank, emails, call notes, reference numbers, as you’ll need this to support your claim. Their decisions are based on fairness, not just strict legal obligation, which can work in your favour.
Importantly, even if the FOS sides with your bank, our team could still help you get your money back. Please read the next section for more information.
Use Our Fraud Recovery Service
If you feel overwhelmed or unsure where to turn after a scam, we are here to help and offer dedicated support to help you navigate the steps of fraud recovery.
How Our Fraud Recovery Services Work
Our team provides:
- Personalised guidance through every step, from reporting to recovery.
- Support with paperwork and official processes.
- Direct liaison with banks, the police, and regulatory authorities on your behalf.
If you’ve been unable to get your money back after being scammed, we could still help you recover. Even in cases where you bank, and the Financial Ombudsman Service have already investigated, there might still be options.
Our team specialises in helping scam victims and have helped recover money lost to scams even after an initial refusal from the claimant’s bank. If you’d like us to help you, why not get in touch today?
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, we’ve shown you how to get help after being scammed. To recap, you should report the scam to your bank, report the crime to the police and escalate to the Financial Ombudsman if necessary.
You can also make use of the many charities that are there to help or speak to us if you’ve struggled to obtain a refund after a scam. Importantly, we provide a free consultation so you’re not obliged to take further action unless you want to.
