Report Fraud Report Assistant

Free interactive assistant that builds a complete, structured Action Fraud (Report Fraud) report from your details. Runs entirely in your browser; nothing you enter is uploaded. Generates a paste-ready narrative for the online form plus an evidence checklist.

Last reviewed: 13 May 2026 · ScamSupport research

Why this matters: Report Fraud reports are processed by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), which prioritises cases based on intelligence-yield, victim vulnerability, and recoverability. Most individual reports don’t lead to a police investigation — the genuine value of filing is (a) the crime reference number you need for bank PSR claims, chargebacks, Section 75, FOS, and credit-file disputes, and (b) the intelligence contribution to nationwide scam-pattern detection. This assistant produces the kind of structured, evidence-backed report that maximises both outcomes.

What Report Fraud actually does

Report Fraud is the operating brand of the National Fraud & Cyber Crime Reporting Service, run by the City of London Police on behalf of UK policing. It collects fraud reports for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. (Scotland: report to Police Scotland on 101.) Reports are routed to NFIB, which triages and either dissemfants the case to a regional police force for investigation, retains the intelligence for pattern analysis, or closes the case for lack of investigative leads.

NFIB’s public statistics show that only a small minority of individual reports become criminal investigations. This isn’t a failure of the system — it reflects that fraud is industrialised and most individual cases share patterns with thousands of others. The investigative value comes from intelligence aggregation. The personal value comes from the crime reference number.

Why the crime reference is so important

Almost every UK recovery route requires an Report Fraud crime reference:

  • PSR Mandatory Reimbursement Scheme (UK Faster Payments / CHAPS APP fraud) — banks generally require or expect a crime reference.
  • Chargeback or Section 75 claims with the card issuer — reference strengthens fraud claims.
  • Financial Ombudsman Service escalation after bank refusal — reference is part of the standard evidence pack.
  • CIFAS Protective Registration / credit-file disputes — reference supports challenging fraudulent entries.
  • Insurance claims where fraud cover applies.
  • Civil action via an SRA-regulated solicitor — reference is part of the evidence file.

What this assistant produces

A complete report in the structure NFIB expects, with:

  • Categorised scam type and NFIB-aligned framing
  • Clear timeline (when contact started, when you realised, when funds were sent)
  • Identified contact channel and platform
  • Documented payment route, amount, and recipient details (if known)
  • Scammer identifiers (names, phone numbers, emails, websites, social handles, account numbers)
  • Structured narrative of what happened
  • Evidence inventory

You paste this output into Report Fraud’s free-text fields. The structure makes triage faster and more accurate, increases the chance the report contributes meaningfully to NFIB intelligence, and gives you a clear record for parallel bank claims.

Report Fraud filing routes

  • Online (preferred): reportfraud.police.uk — available 24/7. Full narrative and evidence upload.
  • Phone: 0300 123 2040 — Monday to Friday, 8am-8pm. Use if you need the report immediately and don’t have time to file online.
  • Welsh language line: 0300 123 2050.
  • Scotland: Police Scotland 101 (Report Fraud doesn’t cover Scotland).
  • Vulnerable victims / urgent risk: Call 999 if there’s an immediate threat to safety; 101 for non-emergency police support; Victim Support on 0808 168 9111 for emotional support.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to file with Report Fraud?

Online filing takes 30-45 minutes if you have your details ready. This assistant’s output cuts the narrative-writing time substantially. You’ll receive a crime reference number immediately on submission. NFIB’s formal acknowledgement and any follow-up correspondence typically arrives within 28 days.

What if I’m unsure about some details?

Submit what you’re sure of and mark gaps as “unknown” or “unsure”. Partial reports are better than no reports — the crime reference still issues. You can add information later via the Report Fraud follow-up channels referenced in your acknowledgement email.

Will Report Fraud get my money back?

Report Fraud itself doesn’t directly recover funds. Recovery comes through your bank (PSR / chargeback / Section 75), the Financial Ombudsman if your bank refuses, and in some cases civil action against the merchant. The Report Fraud reference is the document that unlocks each of those routes. See our recovery playbook for the full sequence.

Should I tell my bank before or after filing with Report Fraud?

Tell your bank first if money has just left your account — the first 24-48 hours are critical for recall attempts. The bank-side claim and the Report Fraud report run in parallel; the bank won’t wait for an Report Fraud crime reference. Once filed, share the reference with your bank as additional supporting evidence.

What if I’m a business?

Business-as-victim reports (CEO fraud, invoice fraud, BEC) use the same Report Fraud route. If your business has 250+ employees and the loss is substantial, also consider the National Crime Agency’s Cyber Crime Reporting line on 0300 123 2040 (same number).

What if I’m only a witness, not a victim?

You can still report. Report Fraud accepts third-party reports about suspicious scams you’ve witnessed or attempted scams you didn’t fall for. This contributes to NFIB intelligence on emerging patterns.

Related ScamSupport tools and pages

Sources

This assistant produces guidance and a structured narrative for your own filing. It is not legal advice. Report Fraud reports are reviewed by NFIB analysts; the assistant does not communicate with Report Fraud on your behalf. For substantial losses, consider engaging an SRA-regulated solicitor in parallel.