What is Action Fraud? And can they help me?

If you’ve been scammed, there are organisations that you should report it to.

The main one is Action Fraud, who may be able to track down the scammers and bring them to justice. They are the UK national reporting centre for fraud and scams. All victims should contact them and tell them what happened. They collect the cases and distribute them to police forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to investigate. Telling them about what happened is similar to telling your local police officer, so they will give you a reference number.

It is vital that you refer your case to them in all cases, whether Refundee is helping you get your money back from your bank or not. This is the only way to potentially help the police track down and arrest the scammers. It could also help to protect other people and prevent them from falling victim to the same scam.

What should I tell them?

ADVICE WITH ACTION FRAUD

They will need key details about what happened, so make sure you note down at least:

➊ Scam details

Who scammed you and how they contacted you. Include company/personal names, numbers and addresses if you’ve got them.

➋ Reasoning

Why you think it’s a scam. Raising concerns about unusual requests and inconsistencies in communication.

➌ Disclosure

We’re regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, we uphold the highest ethical standards, enabling you to handle it independently.

  • Scam details

    Who scammed you and how they contacted you. Include company/personal names, numbers and addresse if you’ve got them.

  • Reasoning

    Why you think it’s a scam. Raisig concerns about unusual requests and inconsistencies communication.

  • Disclosure

    If you’ve given them any personal or banking details. It’s really important that you tell them this when you contact them.

  • Transactions

    How you’ve sent them funds and how much you sent.

You are also likely to be asked for more general information about how the events unfolded, and if you have copies of documentation/evidence relevant to what happened they are also likely to request this.

What do they do with my report?

The notifications are sent to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) which is run by the City of London Police, the national lead force for fraud. The NFIB reviews the cases, and passes some to police forces to investigate. Unfortunately, not all cases sent to the NFIB will be passed to the police.

The NFIB says that these triaged cases are assessed by experienced crime reviewers who consider where there are clear ‘lines of enquiry’. Put simply, they review the evidence in the case and whether there is a realistic chance of catching the scammers. Where it thinks this is the case, it passes the case to the appropriate police force or law enforcement agency.

Can they get my money back?

Unfortunately, only a very small percentage of the scams reported are ever investigated. According to Which? for example, more than 96% of cases go unsolved.

Even when cases are passed to the police, it is often the case that the scammers have already spent the funds or sent it elsewhere without a trace. This means that many victims are left out of pocket. This is where Refundee comes in. If you or someone you know has lost money, Refundee may be able to get their money back from their bank. This is because banks have obligations when they allow transactions from bank accounts, and these obligations are often not met where a scam has occurred.

Make sure you tell your bank and Action Fraud, and if you don't get your money back, you can make a complaint. If you would rather not handle this yourself, Refundee can manage your case for you, as an FCA regulated claims management company. If you’d like us to do this for you, start the process by filling out our claims form. Our fee is 15% of any money that we get back, and we don't charge anything if we are not successful.

Contacting Action Fraud

TELL THEM ABOUT YOUR CASE

Here’s how:

Phone number

They don’t accept reports by post or email, but you can contact them online through their website You can also do it by speaking to one of their advisors over the phone on 0300 123 2040.

Report online

When reporting online, you will be given the option to register on their website. By registering you will be able to:

  • Save and resume a partially completed report

  • Track progress of your report

  • Add information to your report

  • Call them to discuss your report

  • Receive an update by email

Can I report a crime for someone else?

They deal with financial and online crimes related to finances where the victim and the crime were in the UK. You can tell them about a crime on behalf of a victim but you must have their permission first.

What situations can I report to Action Fraud?

If you’ve lost funds to an Investment Scam, Impersonation Scam, Romance Scam, Invoice Scam or Crypto Scam, make sure that you report it. Whilst they try to track down the scammers, Refundee may be able to help you get your money back that you lost.

There are some types of crime that they won't be able to help with. This includes:

  • Theft of a vehicle.

  • Suspicious online behaviour with or towards a child.

  • Online hate or bullying crime, material or messages.

  • Counterfeit medicine or medical devices available to purchase online.

  • Business or personal tax or a HMRC related matter

  • Benefit related.

  • Immigration related.

  • Counterfeit Currency.

How do I get an update on my case?

If you have registered on their website, you can track your case by logging into your account. You can also contact them on their web chat option 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Since most reports are never passed to the Police for investigation, it is possible that you might not get a detailed response from them.