Bank transfer
Contact your bank immediately. Tell them it may be an authorised push payment scam and ask what action can be taken.
Start the stepsMoney sent to a scammer
Sent money to a scammer? What to do next in the UK
If you have sent money to a suspected scammer, act quickly but calmly. Contact your bank or payment provider using a trusted route, keep evidence, and do not respond to recovery offers from strangers.
UK-focused guidance Plain English Money-risk priority No blame or panic
Quick answer
If you sent money to a scammer, contact your bank or payment provider immediately using your banking app, the number on your card, or the official website. Tell them you believe the payment may be scam-related. Keep screenshots, messages, account details and payment records. Be careful of anyone who claims they can recover your money for a fee.
- Contact your bank or payment provider now using a trusted route.
- Ask whether the payment can be stopped, recalled or investigated.
- Keep all messages, usernames, phone numbers, bank details and receipts.
- Do not send more money, even if the scammer says it is needed to release funds.
- Watch for recovery scams from people claiming they can get your money back.
What type of payment was it?
The route to help depends on how the money was sent. Start with the provider that handled the payment.
Card payment
Contact your card provider quickly. Ask whether the transaction can be blocked, disputed or investigated.
Card guidanceCrypto, gift cards or transfer service
Contact the platform or provider, keep evidence and be very cautious of recovery offers.
Recovery scam warningWho to contact first
Use trusted contact routes. Do not use phone numbers, links or email addresses given by the suspected scammer.
Your bank
Use your banking app, the number on your card or your bank's official website. If you are worried about a suspicious bank call, 159 may help many UK customers reach their bank safely.
Your card provider
If you paid by debit or credit card, contact the card provider and explain that the payment may be linked to a scam.
The payment platform
If you used PayPal, a money transfer service, crypto exchange or online marketplace, contact that provider through its official help route.
The account provider
If the scam involved a hacked email, social media account or shopping account, secure that account and change affected passwords.
Step-by-step guidance
Work through these in order. The aim is to reduce further loss, preserve evidence and use the right support routes.
1
Stop all further payments
Do not send any more money. Scammers may ask for extra fees, taxes, deposits, verification payments or release charges.
2
Contact your bank or payment provider
Use a trusted route. Explain what happened, when the payment was made, who it was sent to and why you now believe it may be a scam.
3
Keep evidence
Save messages, emails, phone numbers, usernames, profiles, bank details, wallet addresses, receipts and screenshots. Do not delete the conversation.
4
Secure related accounts
Change passwords if you shared login details or clicked links. Start with email, banking, social media and shopping accounts.
5
Report the scam
Use the UK fraud reporting route. Suspicious emails can be forwarded to report@phishing.gov.uk and scam texts to 7726.
6
Watch for recovery scams
Be wary of anyone who contacts you claiming they can recover your money for a fee. Scammers often target people again after the first loss.
Important: Cleverways is educational guidance, not financial, legal or official reporting advice. Your bank or payment provider is the priority contact if money has been sent.
If something else happened
These guides may help if the payment followed a link, bank call or account issue.
I clicked a link
Close the page, check what you entered and secure any account involved.
Read the link guidanceA bank called me
If someone called claiming to be from your bank, pause and contact your bank through a trusted route.
Read the bank call guidanceMy account may be hacked
Secure your email, social accounts and passwords if details may have been shared.
Read the account guidanceSent money to a scammer FAQs
Can I get my money back after a scam?
It depends on how the money was sent, how quickly you report it and the provider involved. Contact your bank or payment provider as soon as possible and ask what action can be taken.
What should I say to my bank?
Tell them you believe the payment may be linked to a scam. Give the date, amount, recipient details, payment method and a short explanation of what happened.
Should I keep talking to the scammer?
No. Do not send more money or personal details. Keep the messages as evidence, but avoid continuing the conversation.
What is a recovery scam?
A recovery scam is when someone claims they can get your money back, often for an upfront fee. Be very cautious of anyone who contacts you after a scam loss.
Want printable scam-safety checklists at home?
The UK Scam Safety Toolkit gives you practical checklists and action sheets to keep at home, including steps for suspicious messages, bank calls, online shopping scams and family conversations.
Keep the 10-second scam check nearby
The safest step is often a pause. Download the free Cleverways guide and keep a simple check nearby for suspicious messages, calls, emails and payment requests.
Last reviewed: May 2026. Cleverways provides practical educational guidance and signposts trusted UK routes.