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Scam alerts — United Kingdom
UK Finance recorded £1.17 B in fraud losses in 2024, with Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud the dominant category. Below is the live GACS feed of UK-targeted cases, the official Action Fraud / FCA / Pay.UK channels, and how to claim under the new mandatory APP reimbursement rules.
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What this is
This page indexes scams reported by or targeting UK residents. Entries are cross-referenced against the FCA Warning List, Action Fraud bulletins, and the Pay.UK APP-fraud reimbursement framework.
Red flags to watch for
- Caller claims to be from HMRC threatening arrest for unpaid tax — HMRC never threatens arrest by phone
- 'Royal Mail / Evri / DHL' SMS with a missed-parcel fee link — UK couriers never collect fees by SMS
- Investment platform name closely matches an FCA-authorised firm — check the FCA Register and Warning List
- 'Bank fraud team' calls asking you to move funds to a 'safe account' — this is the textbook APP-fraud script
- Romance contact unable to meet because of 'oil rig / military / surgery in Dubai' — refuses live video call
Live cases from the GACS feed
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What to do if you've been targeted
- 1
Contact your bank immediately
Use the 'lost card' number printed on the back of your card. Banks can recall faster-payments within ~30 min and have full APP reimbursement obligations.
- 2
Report to Action Fraud
ActionFraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040. Get the NFRC reference number for your insurer and bank claim.
- 3
Check the FCA Warning List
Verify any 'broker', 'investment', or 'pension adviser' on fca.org.uk. Report unlisted or impersonating firms via the FCA scam-report form.
- 4
Forward phishing texts
Free-forward suspicious SMS to 7726 ('SPAM'). Phishing emails to report@phishing.gov.uk — NCSC takedown averages 24h.
- 5
Activate Shield
Save the actor's handles, wallets, and domains to your free GACS Shield watchlist.
FAQs
Where do I report a scam in the United Kingdom?
ActionFraud.police.uk (England, Wales, NI) or Police Scotland 101. FCA-regulated firm impersonation: fca.org.uk/consumers/report-scam-unauthorised-firm. Texts: forward to 7726. Phishing emails: report@phishing.gov.uk.
Am I entitled to reimbursement under APP rules?
Since October 2024, banks must reimburse APP-fraud victims up to £85,000 within 5 business days, with limited exceptions for gross negligence. Claim via your bank within 13 months of the payment.
What is a clone firm?
A scam operation that copies the name, FCA reference number, and branding of a real authorised firm. Always check the firm's contact details against the FCA Register directly — never trust details from an email or website.
How do I report a scam to GACS?
Submit the wallet address, website, phone number, or social handle at gacs.app. Each report is cross-checked against CryptoScamDB, URLhaus, and on-chain analysis before publication. Activate your free GACS Shield to monitor follow-on activity tied to the same actor.
Is the GACS Shield really free?
Yes. Activating your free Shield gives you unlimited scans, saved history, weekly alerts, and a watchlist — no card, no trial. There is no paid scanner tier.
Related scam profiles & guides
Activate your free GACS Shield
Save scammer handles, wallets, and domains. Get alerted when the same actor surfaces in a new report. Unlimited scans, no card.
Get My Free Scam AlertsAuthoritative sources
Independent primary sources used to check and corroborate the guidance on this page.
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
Official US channel for reporting internet-enabled fraud and cybercrime.
- US Federal Trade Commission — ReportFraud
Consumer fraud reporting and published enforcement data.
- UK Action Fraud
UK national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime.
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
Canada's central repository for fraud reports and scam alerts.
