Report fraud
When a person dishonestly makes a false representation and in doing so intends to make a gain for themselves or a loss for another, they are committing fraud.
Fraud is a unique type of crime. The levels of reported fraud are higher than other crimes and often complex.
Fraudsters are renowned for creating new and clever ways to scam their victims. Some of the current most popular scams are:
- online shopping fraud
- identity theft
- investment fraud
- romance fraud
- courier fraud
- banking fraud
To find out more information about these types of fraud and how to protect yourself from them, visit the Report Fraud website.
Should I report fraud?
If you think you have been a victim of fraud, even if it was unsuccessful, you should report it.
If you do not report it, the fraudster will learn by this experience and may be successful next time.
How do I report fraud?
All fraud should be reported to Report Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud:
- using the online reporting tool on the Report Fraud website, or
- call 0300 123 2040 Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 20:00
You can also quickly contact your bank’s fraud team by calling 159 and selecting the relevant bank.
Reporting fraud to the police
Crime in progress
If there is a crime in progress and there is a known suspect, call 999 immediately.
You can report fraud to us, if:
- an offender is at the scene or nearby
- an offender is known to you and resides in the Avon and Somerset area
- the fraud involves a vehicle, plant, boat, animal or trailer
- the fraud involves a vulnerable victim
For non-emergencies, you can report it:
- online – fill in the report a crime or incident form
- in person – visit a police station
Related documents
Find out about the different types of scams by reading the Little Book of Big Scams (PDF).