Scammed on the Phone? What to Do Right Now

If you've just realised a call was a scam - you shared details, made a payment, or let someone onto your computer - the most important thing is to act quickly and not freeze with embarrassment. These scams are designed by professionals to fool anyone, and fast action genuinely improves your chances of stopping or recovering a loss. This is your clear, ordered checklist for what to do right now.

First: act in the first minutes and hours

Speed matters most. Work through these in order, as they apply to you.

1. If money has left your account, or you shared bank or card details: phone your bank straight away. Use the number on the back of your card or dial 159 to reach your bank's fraud team safely. Ask them to stop any pending payments, freeze the card or account, and start a fraud case. The sooner you call, the better the chance of recovery.
2. If you let someone access your computer or installed software: disconnect it from the internet, uninstall any remote-access tool, and run a security scan - see the tech-support scam guide. Assume anything you typed while they watched is compromised.
3. If you shared passwords or one-time codes: change those passwords now, from a different device you trust. Turn on two-step verification where you can.
4. If it involved your phone account or a SIM: contact your mobile provider, as scammers sometimes try to take over your number.

Then: report it

Reporting protects both you and others, and creates the record you may need:

• Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) or Police Scotland on 101. You'll get a crime reference number - keep it.
• Forward scam texts and calls to 7726 so networks can block the source.
• See our full guide on how to report a scam number for every route.

Protect your identity

If you handed over personal details (name, date of birth, address, National Insurance number), treat it as an identity-theft risk:

• Consider Cifas protective registration. Cifas offers a protective registration that flags your details so lenders take extra checks before opening credit in your name - useful if your identity may have been exposed.
• Check your credit reports with the main credit reference agencies for any applications you don't recognise.
• Watch for follow-up scams. Once details leak, you may get a second call - often posing as your "bank", the "police" or a "recovery agency" promising to get your money back for a fee. Treat all of these as fresh scams.

Can you get your money back?

It depends, but it's worth pursuing:

• Bank-transfer (authorised push payment) scams - where you were tricked into sending money - may be eligible for reimbursement. Ask your bank about their process and the reimbursement rules; reporting promptly strengthens your case.
• Card payments may be recoverable through your card provider's protections.
• There are no guarantees, but acting fast and reporting properly gives you the best chance.

Look after yourself, and don't stay silent

Being scammed can leave people feeling foolish, anxious or ashamed - which is exactly what keeps many from reporting. Please don't let it. These frauds are run by organised criminals using polished, psychologically engineered scripts; being caught out says nothing about your intelligence. Tell your bank, report it, and talk to someone you trust. If a vulnerable friend or relative has been targeted, our guide to protecting elderly relatives from phone scams can help.

The bottom line

If you've been scammed: contact your bank immediately (159), secure any exposed accounts and devices from a trusted device, and report it to Action Fraud. Protect your identity with Cifas and credit checks if personal details leaked, and stay alert for follow-up "recovery" scams. Move fast, report it, and don't carry it alone - quick, calm action is what limits the damage.