Big Scammers

Friday, September 23, 2016

Reporting Scam Mails in the UK

To make reporting scam emails easier the UK government has set up its Action Fraud department,

which operates under their National Fraud and Cyber Crime Reporting Centre. The Action Fraud

department is the UK's first initiative in addressing cyber crime reports and national fraud incidents.


Choosing Between Online Fraud Reporting Tool & Hotline

Reporting scam emails can now be as easy as 1,2,3 with the help of the online fraud reporting tool.

Or if you want, you may also speak to the department’s fraud specialists by dialling 0300 123 2040.

If you wish to make a report without revealing your identity, then you should call the department’s

specialist, since the anonymity option is not available in the online fraud reporting tool.


How Online Fraud Reporting Works

The online fraud reporting tool will provide you with a series of questions, which you have to

answer. These questions will be the primary information necessary for reporting scam emails. In

case you need assistance in filling up the form, you may opt to use the site’s Live Chat feature.


Processing Your Report


After reporting the malicious emails, you will be provided with a reference number, which is also

used by the police department, as the criminal case docket. Your complaint along with the other

details that you have provided will be sent to the NFIB, National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, which is

manned by law enforcement. The police will build a case and begin their investigation. NFIB aims to

provide feedback regarding your complaint within 28 days. During this time, all the necessary

paperwork and processes are handled. Once they have gathered enough evidence, the police can file

a case against the suspected scammer.


Other Options in Filing A Complaint Against Scam Mails


Aside from the agencies and departments mentioned above, reporting scam emails to the implicated

parties is also a good option. Since scam emails often masquerade as one of the legit companies you

are dealing with, you can inform the company whose name is being used by the email scammer. Tell

them that you have been receiving an email from someone posing as a representative of their

company. The legit company can then inform its clients about the email scam and prevent others

from becoming victims.


Contacting the local police in your area to report an email scam is another way to seek assistance

from the authorities. Following the same protocol, the police will provide you with a case reference

number, after which a preliminary investigation will be conducted to confirm your complaint and

catch the culprit.


The steps provided above are the keys to reporting scam emails in the UK. The strict and efficient

approach provided by the UK government made reporting scam emails more accessible to people.

Since the filing system is also efficient, both law enforcers and scam victims are able to monitor the

status of the complaint, so no case is left unattended. Note how reporting scam emails started to set

things in motion, saving people from becoming potential victims of online fraudulent activity.