Which UK helpline should I call first?

For scam-specific emotional + practical support: Victim Support 0808 16 89 111 (free, 24/7, specialist Fraud and Cyber Crime team). For acute mental-health crisis: Samaritans 116 123 (free, 24/7). For general mental-health support not at crisis level: Mind 0300 102 1234 (Mon-Fri 9am-6pm). For practical scam-recovery advice including consumer rights: Citizens Advice consumer line 0808 223 1133.

Are these services really free?

Yes. Every helpline listed is free to UK callers, includes mobile networks (the 0808 prefix is free; 116 123 is free as a special UN-designated number; 0300 numbers are charged at the same rate as 01/02 numbers, included in inclusive minutes on most mobile + landline plans). None require payment for advice. Note: if a 'support' service asks for payment to help with scam recovery, that itself is a scam — see our recovery scam warning.

Is what I tell them confidential?

Yes. All listed services follow strict confidentiality policies. Most won't share what you tell them outside the conversation unless: (a) you ask them to; (b) there's an imminent safety-of-life concern; (c) they're legally compelled (rare for support calls). You can call anonymously if you prefer — no service requires you to give your name.

Can I get face-to-face support?

Yes. Victim Support has local offices across the UK that can offer in-person support after you self-refer through the national line. Citizens Advice has 270+ local Bureaux offering free face-to-face advice. AgeUK has local branches in most large towns. Mind has 100+ local Minds offering counselling, peer support groups, and crisis services. To find your nearest: each organisation's website has a 'find local services' postcode lookup.

What about online peer-support forums?

r/Scams on Reddit has an active scam-victim peer-support community (heavily moderated for recovery-scam attempts in the comments). The Money Saving Expert forum has dedicated 'Scams' and 'Bank Accounts' sub-forums with peer support. Citizens Advice has a 'Get help dealing with the effects of scams' page that signposts to additional services. Caveat: do not respond to private messages offering to 'help' you recover your money — they are almost certainly recovery scams targeting your visible victim status.

UK Peer Support Directory for Scam Victims 2026

Specialist scam-victim support

Victim Support — Fraud and Cyber Crime team

Phone: 0808 16 89 111 (free, 24/7)
Self-referral: victimsupport.org.uk
What they do: emotional support, practical advice on next steps, accompanying victims to police interviews or court (if applicable), local in-person support across the UK after self-referral.
Funded by: Ministry of Justice + Police and Crime Commissioners; independent of police. Confidential and free.

Stop Scams UK

Phone: 0300 320 1313 (consumer hotline, free)
Website: stopscamsuk.org.uk
What they do: industry-funded charity (banks + telcos + tech firms). Cross-sector intelligence-sharing on scam patterns and consumer hotline for in-progress scams.

National hotline 159

Number: 159 (free to call from any UK phone with a participating provider)
What it does: connects you to your bank's fraud team. Use this if you receive a call claiming to be from your bank and want to verify it's real. Hang up first, then dial 159 from a clean line.

Mental-health support

Samaritans

Phone: 116 123 (free, 24/7)
Email: jo@samaritans.org
Website: samaritans.org
What they do: non-judgemental listening service. For any kind of emotional distress, not only suicidal ideation. Available 24/7. Confidential.

Shout 85258

Text: SHOUT to 85258 (free, 24/7)
Website: giveusashout.org
What they do: text-based crisis support for anyone struggling with mental health. Useful if you can't talk on the phone but need someone now.

Mind

InfoLine: 0300 102 1234 (Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, calls charged at local rate, included in inclusive minutes)
Website: mind.org.uk
What they do: information on mental-health conditions and treatments, signposting to local Mind branches for counselling and peer-support groups.

NHS 111 (mental health route)

Phone: 111, then select the mental-health option
What it does: 24/7 NHS triage line. Can refer to a local crisis-resolution service if needed.

Age-specific support

AgeUK Advice Line

Phone: 0800 678 1602 (free, 8am-7pm, every day)
Website: ageuk.org.uk
What they do: dedicated advice for over-60s on scam recovery, benefits, finance, health. Particularly strong on the secondary issue of relatives stepping in to "help" and the autonomy concerns that come with that.

Hourglass — for older people experiencing abuse including financial abuse

Phone: 0808 808 8141 (free, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)
Website: wearehourglass.org
What they do: specialist service for older people experiencing financial abuse, sometimes by family. Confidential.

The Mix — for under-25s

Phone: 0808 808 4994 (free, Mon-Fri 4pm-11pm)
Website: themix.org.uk
What they do: support service specifically for under-25s including financial issues and scam recovery, in a non-judgemental tone calibrated for young adults.

Practical consumer + financial support

Citizens Advice consumer service

Phone: 0808 223 1133 (free, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; Welsh-language line: 0808 223 1144)
Website: citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer
What they do: consumer rights advice — chargeback, Section 75 claims, refund procedures, complaint escalation.

StepChange Debt Charity

Phone: 0800 138 1111 (free, Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 8am-4pm)
Website: stepchange.org
What they do: free debt advice. Critical resource if the scam pushed you into debt you can't repay; they handle creditor negotiations and can recommend appropriate debt-management options.

National Debtline

Phone: 0808 808 4000 (free, Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat 9.30am-1pm)
Website: nationaldebtline.org
What they do: free debt advice, particularly strong on self-help routes and DIY debt-management.

Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)

Phone: 0800 023 4567 (free, Mon-Fri 8am-5pm)
Website: financial-ombudsman.org.uk
What they do: independent ombudsman for financial-service complaints. Free escalation route if your bank refuses reimbursement under PSR/CRM. See our FOS complaint generator.

Reporting routes (not support, but worth knowing)

Action Fraud / Report Fraud: 0300 123 2040 or reportfraud.police.uk — formal fraud reporting
7726: forward spam SMS texts (free, any UK mobile network)
report@phishing.gov.uk: forward phishing emails to NCSC
FCA Consumer Helpline: 0800 111 6768 (free, Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 9am-1pm) — for issues with FCA-authorised firms

Important — avoid these

If you've been scammed, you may receive contact from "recovery services" offering to get your money back for an upfront fee. All upfront-fee recovery offers are scams. Legitimate recovery routes (banks, FOS, solicitors operating on no-win-no-fee) never charge upfront for the recovery service itself. See our recovery scam warning page.

The peer-support and helpline services on this page are free, regulated/charity-funded, and won't ask for payment.

UK peer support directory