The order, step by step
-
Verify or block — before anything else.
If you're unsure whether a call claiming to be your bank is real, hang up and dial 159. It's a free hotline that connects you safely and directly to your bank, bypassing any number a scammer might have given you. If you know your card is compromised, call your bank's official number instead (on the back of your card).
159 — Bank Safe Call hotline, free, available for most major UK banks -
Forward the scam text to 7726.
This free short code (it spells "SPAM" on a keypad) lets your mobile network investigate the sender and take action. It works even if you haven't lost money or replied.
7726 — free, all major UK networks -
Report it to Action Fraud.
The UK's national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime. Report online or by phone, with screenshots, the text content, and any transaction details you have.
actionfraud.police.uk — online reporting · 0300 123 2040 -
Ask your bank about APP fraud reimbursement in writing.
If you were tricked into authorising a transfer yourself (an Authorised Push Payment scam), ask your bank explicitly about reimbursement under the PSR's mandatory scheme. If refused, you can escalate free of charge to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Will my bank refund me?
It depends on the type of transaction. For an unauthorised transaction (someone acted without your knowledge), your bank must generally refund you. For an Authorised Push Payment (APP) scam — where you were tricked into authorising the transfer yourself, for example after a "bank employee" call — the picture changed in October 2024: under new PSR rules, UK banks must reimburse victims up to £85,000 in most cases, though exceptions still exist for gross negligence or vulnerable-consumer edge cases. Reporting still matters either way — it's what gets the number and the pattern documented, refund or not.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What's the first thing I should do if I've just been scammed?
If money, a card, or bank access is involved: call your bank straight away. If you're unsure whether it's really your bank calling, hang up and dial 159 — the free hotline that connects you safely to your bank, bypassing any number a scammer may have given you.
How do I report a scam call or text in the UK?
Forward the scam text free of charge to 7726 (it spells "SPAM" on a phone keypad) so your network can investigate the sender. To report a scam more broadly, contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or at actionfraud.police.uk.
What is 159 and how is it different from Action Fraud?
159 is a bank safe-call hotline: dial it whenever you're unsure if a call claiming to be from your bank is genuine, and it connects you directly and safely. Action Fraud is the national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime — use it to formally report a scam after the fact, not to verify a call in progress.
Will my bank refund me?
For an unauthorised transaction, your bank must generally refund you. For an APP scam, new PSR rules mean UK banks must reimburse victims up to £85,000 in most cases, though exceptions exist for gross negligence.
If this page was for a parent, not for you
If you're here because a parent or loved one was targeted, not you: this exact pattern — a call, time pressure, bank details — can be flagged before money moves. Egidio's Family mode protects up to 4 people under one subscription, each on their own device, with no one reading anyone else's messages.
See family protectionSo it doesn't happen again
Egidio recognises the patterns that precede this kind of scam — suspicious texts, spoofed senders, high-pressure situations — before you react. All analysis happens entirely on your Android device, with no message content ever transmitted.
Install Egidio free