Scams & fraud
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How common UK scams work in 2025/26 and how to report them — HMRC tax-refund scams, bank impersonation and Authorised Push Payment fraud, pension cold-calling, and investment scam warning signs. Sources: HMRC, FCA, PSR, UK Finance, Report Fraud.
- Scams
APP fraud reimbursement: getting your money back
Since 7 October 2024, banks and payment firms must reimburse most victims of authorised push payment (APP) scams made by bank transfer (Faster Payments), usually within five business days, up to a maximum of £85,000 per claim. The cost is shared 50/50 between the sending and receiving firms. Report it to your bank immediately.
- Scams
HMRC tax refund and tax debt scams
HMRC never text, email or call to tell someone they're owed a tax refund and ask them to click a link. Genuine HMRC refunds appear automatically in a personal tax account or by cheque following a P800. Scam reports can be forwarded to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk (email), 7726 (text), or reported at gov.uk/report-suspicious-emails-websites-phishing.
- Scams
Bank impersonation and Authorised Push Payment scams
Bank impersonation (or 'safe account') scams persuade victims to transfer money to a 'safe' account they have been told is theirs but is actually controlled by the criminal. Since 7 October 2024, UK Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud reimbursement rules require the sending and receiving banks (over the Faster Payments and CHAPS schemes) to refund eligible victims up to £85,000 within 5 working days.
- Scams
Pension cold-calling and pension transfer scams
Cold calls about pensions have been illegal in the UK since 9 January 2019. Any unsolicited call, text or email offering a pension review, 'free' pension check, early release before age 55, or an investment opportunity is either illegal or fraudulent. The Pensions Regulator publishes guidance on pension scams at thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/pension-scams.
- Scams
Investment scams: warning signs and how to verify a firm
Almost all UK investment scams share three features: a promise of high returns with little or no risk, pressure to invest quickly, and an unauthorised or cloned firm. Three checks before you invest — verify the firm on the public authorisations register, search the regulator's warning list for reported clones, and walk away if anything doesn't match — catch the vast majority of investment fraud.
- Scams
How to spot a scam: the warning signs to watch for
Most scams share the same red flags: you are contacted unexpectedly, pushed to act quickly, asked to move money to a 'safe account' or pay an upfront fee, or asked for passwords, PINs or one-time codes. Stop, take time, and verify using contact details you find yourself — never those given to you.
- Scams
What to do if you've been scammed
Act fast: contact your bank straight away to try to stop or recover the payment, report it via Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk (or Police Scotland on 101), and change any passwords that may be compromised. For bank-transfer scams you may be entitled to reimbursement, usually within five business days.