Home › Where to Report › United Kingdom
How to report a crypto scam in United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, report cryptocurrency fraud to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040. That is the national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime, and it is the channel that can lead to an investigation. Keep the NFRC reference number you are given. Also report the firm to the FCA, and check the FCA Warning List before dealing with anyone who offers to recover your money.
Where to report, and what each channel actually does
Not every reporting channel does the same thing. Some can start an investigation; others collect intelligence and will never respond to you individually. Both are worth filing — but only one of them begins a process. File in this order.
Action Fraud Police — can lead to an investigation
The national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Reports are assessed by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau and passed to police forces where there are viable lines of enquiry. Keep your NFRC reference number — you will need it for your bank and any insurer.
Police Scotland Police — can lead to an investigation
If you are in Scotland, report directly to Police Scotland on 101 rather than to Action Fraud.
FCA Regulator
Report the firm, and search the FCA Warning List first. The list includes clone firms — scammers copying the registered details of genuinely authorised businesses, which is common in this sector.
Your bank, immediately Intelligence only — no case response
If money left a UK bank account within the last few days, call them now. The Contingent Reimbursement Model and newer APP fraud reimbursement rules may apply to the fiat leg of the transfer, even when the crypto leg is unrecoverable.
What to include in your report
The transaction IDs are the single most important thing. A report without them is dramatically weaker, because investigators group cases by wallet address.
- Every wallet address you sent funds to
- Transaction IDs (hashes) for each transfer
- Dates, times and amounts
- Every website, app and account name used
- Full chat exports — not screenshots, which lose timestamps
- Bank statements showing money moving to the exchange
Can British courts help?
England is one of the more favourable jurisdictions in the world for this. The courts have treated crypto-assets as property, and Norwich Pharmacal and Bankers Trust disclosure orders can compel an exchange to identify an account holder. Freezing injunctions against persons unknown have been granted. If your loss is substantial and recent, a solicitor's opinion is worth the cost — this is one of the few places where civil action is genuinely realistic.
If a firm offers to recover your money
Expect to be approached. Victim lists are bought and sold, and recovery fraud specifically targets people who have already lost money once. Before paying anyone, ask what licence they hold, from which regulator, and what the number is.
The licence to demand in United Kingdom
A solicitor regulated by the SRA. Check the SRA number on the Law Society's 'Find a Solicitor' register, or an FCA-authorised firm on the FCA register. Verify using the contact details on the register, never the ones the firm gave you.
The FCA Warning List exists because clone firms are endemic here. A firm may quote a genuine FCA number belonging to somebody else. Always call back on the number listed on the FCA register itself.
A SAM.gov registration is not a licence. A NATO NCAGE code is not a licence. Both are free self-registrations with no vetting behind them, and both are used constantly by fraudulent operators to look official.
Check whether your case is recoverable — free
Frequently asked questions
Is Action Fraud a police force?
No. It is the national reporting centre. Reports go to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, which assesses them and passes viable cases to individual police forces. You may not hear back, and that does not mean the report was worthless.
Can I get reimbursed by my bank?
Possibly, for the fiat leg. UK APP fraud reimbursement rules require receiving and sending banks to reimburse victims of authorised push payment fraud in many circumstances. Report to your bank immediately and reference those rules.
Can English courts really freeze crypto?
Yes — the courts have granted freezing injunctions and disclosure orders relating to crypto-assets, including against persons unknown. It requires identifying where funds landed, which is why tracing and speed matter.
What is a Norwich Pharmacal order?
A court order compelling a third party — typically an exchange — to disclose information identifying a wrongdoer. It is the mechanism that turns a wallet address into a name, and it is why English proceedings are sometimes viable where others are not.
Should I use a crypto recovery firm?
Only on a no-recovery-no-fee basis, in writing, from a firm that can name its regulator and number. Anyone requesting payment before recovering anything should be declined.
What if the exchange is outside the UK?
It complicates matters but does not always end them. Several major exchanges respond to English court orders. A solicitor can advise on whether the specific exchange has been amenable.