I have just been scammed — what do I do right now?

Take a breath. The next few hours matter, but you are not alone and you are not without rights. Here is the order of operations that gives you the best chance of getting the money back under UK law.

Should I call my bank or report to the police first?

Call your bank first. The bank is the only party that can ask the receiving bank to attempt to freeze the funds, and that window narrows by the hour. Action Fraud (or Police Scotland) is important and required by the PSR scheme, but it can wait a few hours.

What if I sent the money on a weekend or overnight?

Call the 24-hour fraud number on the back of your card immediately — every UK retail bank operates a 24/7 fraud line. Do not wait until Monday. Faster Payments settle in seconds, but the receiving account can sometimes still be frozen if a request lands quickly.

Is it too late if it happened a few days ago?

No. The funds may not be recoverable from the receiving account, but the refund itself comes from your sending bank under the PSR Mandatory Reimbursement Scheme. You have 13 months from the last fraudulent payment to bring the claim. Start the steps below now.

Will reporting it affect my credit score?

No. Filing a fraud report does not mark your credit file. What can affect your credit file is identity theft enabled by the same scammer — many fraud-victims register a CIFAS protective marker if you shared identity documents.

The scammer is still messaging me. What do I do?

Stop responding. Block the number, the email and the social media account. Take screenshots first as evidence (you will need them). Do not confront, threaten, or try to negotiate — that almost never recovers the money and can be used against you later.

Should I tell my family or friends?

Yes — particularly if any of them might be approached by the same scammer or sent payment requests in your name. Romance scams and impersonation scams often target several family members in sequence. Telling people early breaks the cycle.

The UK first-24-hours playbook for victims of bank transfer scams and APP fraud. Step-by-step actions to give yourself the best possible chance of recovering the money under the PSR Mandatory Reimbursement Scheme.

What to do immediately after a bank transfer scam

Call the 24/7 fraud line on the back of your card. Say "authorised push payment fraud". Ask for a recall and get a case reference number.

Follow up in writing

Email the bank's fraud or complaints inbox the same day, stating the amounts and dates and citing the PSR Mandatory Reimbursement Scheme.

Report to Action Fraud

Report at actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040. In Scotland call Police Scotland on 101. Get a crime reference number.

Lock down your accounts

Change online banking and email passwords. Enable two-factor authentication. If you shared identity documents, register a CIFAS protective marker at cifas.org.uk.

Capture and preserve all evidence

Screenshot every message, webpage, and social profile. Download bank statements. Do not delete scammer messages even after blocking.

Tell the people who need to know

Inform your partner, accountant if business funds were involved, and any family member who might be targeted next.

Wait for the bank's decision

The bank has five working days to reimburse you or explain why not. If refused, you have six months from the final response letter to escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service for free.

What to Do Immediately

Scam Refund · Urgent

I have just been scammed — what do I do right now?

Right now, in the next ten minutes:

Everything else can wait until that call is made.

Step 1 — Call your bank now

Every UK retail bank has a 24/7 fraud line. The number is on the back of your card. When you get through, say “authorised push payment fraud” or “APP fraud” — that phrase triggers the right internal process. Ask them to attempt to recall the funds and to escalate to the fraud team, not handle it on the front line. Do not hang up without a case reference number.

Step 2 — Follow up in writing

Same day, send a short email to the bank’s fraud or complaints inbox. Include the date, amount and beneficiary of each payment, your case reference number, and one sentence: “I require reimbursement under the PSR Mandatory Reimbursement Scheme.” That email starts the five-working-day clock. Save the sent copy. If the bank later claims you were slow to report, this is your proof.

Step 3 — Report to Action Fraud

Within 24 hours, report at

actionfraud.police.uk

or call 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101. You will get a reference number. The PSR scheme requires you to provide it to the bank if asked. Action Fraud will not investigate your individual case — but the report is a customer-standard requirement, and banks have used the absence of one as a reason to refuse.

Step 4 — Lock down everything

Change your online banking password. Turn on two-factor authentication if it was not already on. Change your email password if you used the same one. If you shared card details, ask the bank to cancel and reissue the card. If you sent identity documents, file a CIFAS protective registration at

— around £25 for two years. It tells lenders to apply extra checks before opening anything in your name.

Step 5 — Capture the evidence now

Screenshot every message, every webpage, every social profile before anything disappears. Note the name and number of any caller. Download bank statements. Do not delete the scammer’s messages even after blocking. The most common reason claims fail at the Financial Ombudsman is missing evidence. The second most common is edited evidence. Keep everything original and untouched.

Step 6 — Tell the people who need to know

Tell your partner, your accountant if business funds were involved, and any family member who might be next. Many scams target a household in sequence. If a real supplier’s invoice was faked, call them — their email may have been compromised and other clients could be at risk. If the loss is significant and you are struggling, it is worth mentioning to your GP. Scam shock is real and recognised by the FCA.

Step 7 — Wait for the bank’s decision

The bank has five working days to reimburse you or write to you explaining why not. It can extend by up to 35 further working days, but only if it tells you within those first five days. If it refunds you, the matter is closed. If it refuses, you have six months from the final response letter to take the case to the Financial Ombudsman — free, independent, and binding on the bank if you accept its decision.

Ready to file the formal claim?

Once the immediate steps are done, we draft your PSR-aligned bank complaint and walk you through Financial Ombudsman escalation if the bank says no — for a fixed £49. No CMC fee. You keep every penny of your refund.

Not legal advice. This guide is for general information only. For advice specific to your circumstances, consult a regulated legal professional or contact Citizens Advice.