There are many distinct types of fraud designed to
target people and businesses.
If you're a victim of fraud that is a crime in progress and you
need an immediate police response dial 999 or if
it is a non-emergency situation, call 101. You can
also report fraud by contacting Action Fraud.
What is fraud?
Fraud is defined as: the crime of obtaining
money or some other benefit by
deliberate deception.
Report fraud to Action Fraud
Action Fraud is the UK’s national fraud reporting
centre and the place for you to report fraud and scams, or
to get advice if you’re not sure what to do.
If you’ve been a victim of fraud, you can report it to Action
Fraud online using the secure online
fraud reporting tool. You'll be given a crime reference number
and your case will be referred on to the police force that
investigates fraud. You can also call 0300 123
2040.
Why contact Action Fraud?
Sometimes people chose not to report fraud because they are
embarrassed that they fell for a scam.
Remember that fraud is a crime and that
fraudsters will constantly reinvent themselves to find new ways of
tricking people. Anyone could be a victim.
Some people also think that fraud is a victimless crime, or that
it’s not as serious as other crimes. This is not true. Fraudsters
are often part of serious organised criminal
gangs, who use the money
to fund other crimes such as human trafficking,
illegal firearms trade and terrorism.
Fraudsters rely on silence. We can beat fraud if we talk.
Top 5 tips to prevent fraud
- Do not give any personal information (name,
address, bank details, email or phone number) to organisations or
people before verifying their credentials.
- Many frauds start with an email. Remember that
banks and financial institutions will not send you
an email asking you to click on a link and confirm your
bank details. Always question whether an email could be
bogus.
- Destroy and preferably shred receipts with
your card details on and post with your name and address on.
Identity fraudsters don’t need much information in order to be able
to clone your identity.
- If you have been a victim of fraud, be aware of fraud
recovery fraud. This is when fraudsters pretend to be a
lawyer or a law enforcement officer and tell you they can help you
recover the money you’ve already lost.
- To report fraud or if you need advice, visit Action Fraud's website.
Visit Action Fraud's
website for more information, including advice and information
about fraud.
Types of fraud
Below is a series of links to specific fraud guides, produced by
the National Fraud Reporting Centre, which will help you identify
and prevent different types of fraud.