If you have fallen victim to a scam, make sure you report it. You may not always be able to get your money back, but you might be able to reduce the damage and take steps to stop it happening again – to you or other people.
Scams are crimes and should be reported to Action Fraud, the national fraud and cyber crime reporting centre (0300 123 2040). You can also report phishing scams or computer viruses that you’ve received but haven’t fallen victim to. Phishing is when scammers send fake messages by text, email or social media to fish for your personal information, such as bank details or passwords, or promise rewards for an upfront fee.
Certain scams can also be reported to Trading Standards using the Citizens Advice consumer helpline (0808 223 1133). Trading Standards looks at cases where companies have acted illegally or unfairly – for example, if they’ve pressured you into buying something you didn’t want or haven’t carried out work on your home properly.