Help after cyber crime

It’s your choice what you do. Here are some things that can help.

• Contact your bank. If you’ve lost money, or you think someone has access to your account, tell your bank or payment provider as soon as you can. Keep notes of your conversations, and copies of any letters. Banks should refund money stolen through fraud, so ask about your options.
• Secure your accounts. Contact the company that runs the account, such as your email or social media provider. Check your email account is safe. Log out of all devices and apps. Check your bank statements and online shopping accounts for anything you don’t recognise. Change passwords for the affected accounts, and for any other account that uses the same password.
• Report it to Report Fraud. Report Fraud is the national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime. You can report to them online, or call 0300 123 2040, even if no money was taken. They’ll log it and give you a crime reference number.
• Report scam messages. You can forward scam emails to report@phishing.gov.uk, and report scam texts by forwarding them to 7726.
• Tell other organisations. If a company’s name was used in the scam, such as an energy provider or the DVLA, tell them. You can also tell the platform where it happened, like Facebook or Google.
• Keep a record. Keep any emails, messages or screenshots.
• If your personal details were stolen, you can ask Cifas for protective registration.

It’s your choice whether to report it, but reporting helps the police and others act. For most fraud and cyber crime, the police will ask you to report to Report Fraud first.

Learn here how to report a crime.

If someone has used technology to watch, threaten or control you as part of an abusive relationship, this may be domestic abuse. Domestic abuse is never your fault, and we can help you. You don’t need to be ready to leave.

If someone targeted you online because of your race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity, it may be hate crime.