In short
- Reporting creates an official record, helps investigators link cases and can protect the next person.
- Collect evidence first: messages, website addresses, wallet addresses, transaction references and dates.
- Report to your bank, the police or national fraud centre, and a financial regulator where relevant — only through official channels.
Why report at all
Many people do not report fraud. They feel embarrassed, assume nothing can be done, or do not know where to go. Reporting is still worth it, for several reasons:
- It creates a record. Banks, insurers and sometimes tax authorities may ask for a police or crime reference number.
- It connects cases. A single report may look small, but investigators combine thousands of them to identify the groups behind a scheme.
- It triggers warnings and takedowns. Regulators publish warnings about unauthorised firms, and phishing sites can be removed.
- It sometimes helps recovery. When funds can be frozen — for example, when they reach a regulated service — speed and an official report make a difference.
Reporting does not promise that money will come back, and it is honest to say that often it does not. It does make it more likely, and it makes the next attempt harder for the criminals.
Collect evidence first
Before you delete anything or block anyone, save:
- screenshots of conversations, profiles, adverts and website pages, including the address bar;
- names, usernames, phone numbers and e-mail addresses used by the fraudsters;
- wallet addresses you sent funds to, and transaction identifiers (often called transaction hashes);
- bank statements and card payment references;
- a short timeline in your own words: when contact started, what was said and when each payment was made.
Keep the originals and give copies to the authorities. Do not alter screenshots.
Who handles what
Your bank or card provider
If money left a bank account or card, the bank is often the fastest route to stopping or recalling a payment. Call the number on your card or in your banking app.
Police and national fraud centres
In the EU, report to the national or local police; many countries offer online forms, and Europol publishes links to them. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, fraud is reported to Report Fraud; in Scotland, to Police Scotland. In the US, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) takes reports of online fraud, and the Federal Trade Commission collects scam reports and shares them with law enforcement.
Financial regulators
If a firm claimed to be authorised, copied a real firm's details or offered financial or crypto-asset services, tell the national financial regulator, such as the FCA in the UK or the relevant national competent authority in an EU country.
Platforms
Report fake profiles, adverts and messages to the social network, app or website where they appeared, so they can be removed.
Our Report fraud page gathers the official links and phone numbers for each region in one place.
Your e-mail and mobile providers
If an e-mail account was taken over or your phone number was moved to another SIM card, contact those providers directly through their official help pages or shops. They can restore access and may keep records that help investigators.
If you are not sure it was a scam
You do not need to be certain before you report. If something felt wrong — a call that pushed you to move money, a platform that refused a withdrawal, a message asking for a code — it is reasonable to report it and let the authorities decide. Reports of attempts that failed are useful too, because they show which scripts are circulating. Your bank, in particular, would rather hear about a suspicious contact early than after money has left your account.
If the fraudsters are abroad
Crypto fraud often crosses borders, and the people behind it are frequently in another country. Report in the country where you live anyway. Police services cooperate across borders, including through Europol and Interpol, and your report can be passed on. You do not need to find the right foreign agency yourself, and you should be wary of anyone claiming to be a foreign official who asks you to pay to "transfer" your case.
What to expect
You will usually receive a reference number, sometimes immediately. You may not hear more for some time, and many reports are used for intelligence rather than individual investigations. That can be frustrating, but it is normal. Keep your reference number and your evidence in a safe place. If you reported to several bodies, keep a simple list of which ones, when, and the reference number each gave you.
Watch out after reporting
Fraudsters sometimes pose as the police, a regulator or a lawyer "following up" on your report and ask for a fee or for your recovery phrase. Official bodies do not charge victims to investigate. If in doubt, call the organisation back on its official number. Our guide to recovery scams explains this in detail.
Do and don't when reporting
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Save evidence before blocking or deleting | Delete the conversation out of embarrassment |
| Call your bank first if a payment came from it | Wait days to see whether the money appears |
| Use the official channels listed on our reporting page | Report through links or numbers sent by strangers |
| Keep your reference number safe | Pay anyone who offers to speed up your case |
| Tell family you may be targeted again | Post the details of your loss publicly |
If it already happened
If the loss happened today, start with our first-hour checklist: stop contact, call your bank, secure your e-mail and save evidence. Then use the reporting page to find the right official channel for where you live.
Printable checklist
What to do in the first hour after a scam — Work down the list in order. It is not your fault, and acting quickly helps.
Sources
This guide is general safety education. It is not financial, legal or security advice for your individual situation, and it does not recommend acquiring, holding or disposing of any crypto-asset. If you think you are dealing with fraud, contact your bank and the police.