Action Fraud is the UK’s national fraud reporting centre, hosted by City of London Police as the national policing lead for fraud. It evaluates reports of cybercrime and fraud to build a national picture. But, do you know how to report a scam?

In a common law fraud case, the injured party’s actual reliance upon a representation is a key element. This is not always easy to prove.

Identifying fraud

Fraudsters can target anyone, anywhere. These crimes are not victimless. Whether it is identity fraud where criminals create false details to obtain goods or services or facility takeover where they bypass the security of your existing accounts with enough information such as passwords, these crimes are not. They’re traumatic for people who have been affected, and the money fraudsters steal ends up raising prices, interest rates and premiums for genuine customers.

You can use action fraud’s reporting system at any time to report fraud or cybercrime if you believe you or someone you are close to has been a victim. This tool is easy to use. Online advisers are available to assist you in case of need.

All reports are sent to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) which assesses them in order to identify those presenting the best opportunity for police forces and other anti-fraud agencies to investigate. The NFIB’s host is the City of London Police. NFIB, which is a separate organization from Action Fraud does not share any data with Age NI. Therefore, we will not know the details you give us when you report.

Reporting fraud

Please report any fraud or cybercrime that has affected you in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland to action fraud. City of London Police, the UK’s national policing leader for fraud, hosts this centre. You can report online, and advisors will be available to assist you 24 hours a days via web chat.

All reports to act fraud are referred by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau. This bureau assesses and identifies cases that police forces can investigate. Each report cannot be investigated separately, but the data helps to build a picture of fraud crimes across the UK.

You will be given a crime reference number when you contact action fraud. This number can then be used in conversations with your bank or any other agency about the experience. You can report online or by phone, or you can use Relay UK using an app or a textphone. Your information will be kept secure and only used by the NFIB or police forces to combat fraud.

Supporting victims

Fraud can make victims feel devasted, humiliated, upset, angry, and powerless. They can also suffer feelings of betrayal, loss of trust and a lack of confidence. Fraudsters do not care who they hurt, and they can drain entire accounts without giving much thought to the victims. This can put them in a dire situation, especially for those who are already struggling financially in Britain. However, it is possible to recover from the financial loss and many victims have been able to get their lives back on track with the help of dedicated charities.

The charity Victim Support works to advocate for the recovery of fraudulent losses and to educate people how to prevent the crime from happening in the first place. Its work benefits individuals, businesses and government bodies that are victimized by fraudsters. Its campaigns reach millions of people and provides victims with support to help them deal the aftermath of a fraud. It can also provide financial advice to help them get their lives back on track.

It is important to know how to protect yourself against fraud, but it can be difficult to detect scams and cyber crime, especially when they happen online. Criminals are constantly inventing new ways to trick victims, so it is vital that victims know how to spot scams. This can make it easy for them to report the fraud to action.

Action Fraud, the national reporting center for those who are scammed or defrauded, is available in England and Wales as well as Northern Ireland. The City of London Police, the National Crime Agency and advisors are available 24 hours a week via web chat for those who need help.

The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau is notified of the report and is responsible for assessing it. This helps to build a national picture of fraud and identify the most serious cases that need to be investigated. Action Fraud has no investigative powers and therefore cannot guarantee police investigations or provide advice on the content of a report.

Building a national picture

Once you have reported a fraud or cyber crime, it will be sent directly to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau hosted by the City of London Police. The NFIB’s system evaluates reports from all over the country to determine those that present the best opportunity for anti-fraud agencies and police forces to investigate.