If you've been scammed, act quickly — there are steps you can take right now to limit the damage and start the recovery process. You are not to blame.
Tick each step as you complete it — act as quickly as possible
Follow these steps in order. Time matters — the sooner you act, the better your chances of recovery.
Call your bank's fraud team straight away — even outside business hours. Under the Authorised Push Payment (APP) Fraud Code, you may be entitled to a refund if you acted in good faith.
What to say: "I've been the victim of an authorised push payment fraud / investment scam. I need to report this, freeze my account, and initiate a recall of the payment made to [account details]."
Report the fraud to Report Fraud — the UK's national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre. This creates an official record and generates a crime reference number.
If the scammer has seen your device, login details, or personal information, they may try to access your other accounts. Act quickly to secure everything.
If the scammer has your personal details (name, DOB, address, National Insurance number), they may attempt identity fraud.
If your bank refuses to refund you and you believe they should have done more to protect you, you can escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service — a free, independent service.
After being scammed, many victims are approached by "recovery companies" who claim they can get your money back — for an upfront fee. These are almost always scams themselves.
Scammers are sophisticated criminals who deliberately exploit trust. Fraud can happen to anyone, regardless of age, education, or intelligence. Feeling ashamed or embarrassed is completely normal — but you deserve support, not blame.