Scams in the UK — Reporting, Recovery & APP Fraud Reimbursement
How to report scams in the UK, what the new APP fraud reimbursement rules mean for you, and which scams hit UK consumers hardest in 2024-2025.
UK APP Fraud Reimbursement — What You Need to Know
PSR RULESMandatory Since October 2024
Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) rules now require UK banks to reimburse victims of Authorised Push Payment (APP) scams in most cases.
PSR website →86% of Losses Reimbursed
By end of 2024, 86% of APP fraud losses were reimbursed under the new rules — major shift in UK consumer protection.
Read full guide →What Counts as APP Fraud
You authorised the transfer but were tricked into sending money to a scammer — romance scam, investment scam, fake invoice, purchase fraud.
PSR APP guide →If Bank Refuses
If your bank won’t reimburse, escalate free to the Financial Ombudsman Service. They settle most disputes within 90 days.
FOS website →Top UK Scams 2024 — Most Reported & Most Costly
ACTION FRAUDOnline Shopping & Auctions
52,980 reportsMost-reported UK scam type. Fake listings on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Gumtree. Item never arrives — or item is counterfeit.
Spot fake listings →Computer Software Service Fraud
+84% YoYFake Microsoft, Apple, antivirus “support” scams. Fastest-growing UK scam type — up from 6,465 reports to 11,921 in one year.
Recognize the pattern →Card & Bank Account Fraud
£572.6MUnauthorised card transactions, account takeover, remote-purchase fraud. UK Finance reports +22% in remote-purchase fraud cases.
Card scam guide →Ticket Fraud
9,824 reportsFake concert, sports event, festival tickets. Surges around major events — Taylor Swift, Wimbledon, Premier League finals.
Stay safe →Dating & Romance Scams
9,096 reportsUK saw highest romance-scam losses since 2020. Dating apps, Facebook, Instagram. Often graduates into pig butchering.
How they work →HMRC, DVLA & Royal Mail SMS
High volumeSmishing impersonating HMRC tax refunds, DVLA fines, Royal Mail parcel fees, EE/Three “billing issues”. Forward to 7726 to report.
SMS scam guide →UK Scam Reporting — Step by Step
URGENTStep 1 — Call Your Bank
UK banks have 24/7 fraud lines. Same-day reporting triggers the strongest reversal options. Many UK banks now offer instant freeze via app.
How to dispute →Step 2 — Action Fraud
Report at actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040. Generates a crime reference number — essential for bank disputes.
Action Fraud →Step 3 — Report SMS/Emails
Forward suspicious texts to 7726 (free). Forward phishing emails to report@phishing.gov.uk. Both run by NCSC.
NCSC guide →Step 4 — If Bank Refuses
Escalate to Financial Ombudsman Service. Free. 90-day average resolution. Strong consumer-protection track record under PSR rules.
Ombudsman →UK scam victim?
You have stronger reimbursement rights than most countries. Don’t pay any “recovery service” — escalate through your bank → Action Fraud → Financial Ombudsman. All free.