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How to report a job scam in the UK

UK routes for reporting a job scam: Report Fraud or Police Scotland, forwarding scam emails and texts, agency complaints, visa scams and the job site.

By LuceriaPublished Updated

Which route for which situation

UK reporting routes for job scams
SituationWhere to reportNotes
You lost money or were hacked (England, Wales or Northern Ireland)Report Fraud, online or by phone on 0300 123 2040As set out on GOV.UK and nidirect
You lost money (Scotland)Police ScotlandAs set out on GOV.UK
You paid money or shared bank detailsYour bank or card provider, immediatelyAsk whether the payment can be stopped
A scam emailForward to report@phishing.gov.ukInvestigated by the National Cyber Security Centre
A scam text messageForward to 7726Free; reports it to your mobile provider
A visa or immigration scamReport Fraud, with the email and sender detailsGOV.UK lists what to include
An employment agency charging you a feeGreat Britain: the pay and work rights complaints service. Northern Ireland: the Employment Agency InspectorateIn Great Britain these complaints go to the Fair Work Agency

What to collect before reporting

Evidence to keep

  • The advert, its web address and the site it appeared on.
  • Every message, with the sender's email address, phone number or username.
  • Dates and times of contact.
  • Details of any payment: amount, method, account details you were given.
  • What you sent them, such as bank details or copies of documents.

Tell the platform too

Report the advert or profile to the job site or social network where you found it, using its own reporting tool, so it can be removed before others respond. If the scam used a real company's name, let that company know through its official contact details; it may already be warning candidates.

JobsAware, a UK non-profit focused on safe job seeking, publishes information on common job scams and how to report them.

After you report

  • Change any passwords you shared or reused.
  • Watch your bank statements and credit file for activity you do not recognise.
  • Consider Cifas Protective Registration if your identity documents were shared; Cifas explains it adds extra checks when your details are used to apply for products.
  • Be wary of follow-up contact offering to recover your money for a fee.
A short report summary you can adapt
On [date] I applied for a [job title] role advertised on [site]. The recruiter, [name / number / email], offered me the job without an interview and asked me to pay [amount] for [reason] by [method]. I paid / did not pay. I shared the following details: [details]. I have copies of all messages.

Common questions

What happened to Action Fraud?

Report Fraud replaced Action Fraud as the reporting service for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, as GOV.UK and nidirect explain, and the old Action Fraud web address forwards to it. In Scotland, report to Police Scotland.

Should I report a scam I did not fall for?

Yes. Forwarding scam emails and texts and reporting adverts to the platform helps stop the same scam reaching other people.

Sources

Put it into practice

See how Luceria helps with this
If you shared details with a job scammerHow to spot a fake job advertHow Luceria Verify worksMore on checking employers and job offers

Drafted with AI assistance and checked against Luceria’s editorial standards. Examples are illustrative, not real people’s results. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.