Reporting a Scam Targeting a Child to Action Fraud
Children and teenagers are increasingly targeted by fraudsters: in-game money-mule recruitment, fake job adverts, fake giveaways and competitions, gift-card extortion, fake luxury reseller scams on Vinted or Depop, marketplace scams, and romance scams aimed at teens. Action Fraud is the UK's national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime. Reporting a scam — even a small one — feeds national intelligence and helps protect other children. Your child has not done anything wrong by being targeted.
Immediate danger — call 999
If a child is being threatened in person, is suicidal, or is being coerced to meet someone or hand over money under duress, call 999 immediately.
What to report
- •How much money (or items, gift cards, or vouchers) was lost or sent
- •Who contacted the child and how — username, profile URL, phone number, or email
- •Which app, website, or game the contact happened on (e.g. Roblox, TikTok, Snapchat, Vinted)
- •What the scammer said or asked for, including any threats or pressure tactics
- •Bank account details, crypto wallet addresses, or payment links used by the scammer
- •Whether the child has shared personal data such as full name, address, school, or photo ID
- •Any other young people the scammer appears to be in contact with
How to report
Action Fraud
When to use
For any fraud or cybercrime targeting a child — including money lost, attempted scams, and identity theft
How to contact
Report online at actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040 (Mon-Fri 8am-8pm). You can report on behalf of your child. You will receive a National Fraud Reference Number (NFRN).
What to expect
Action Fraud is the national reporting centre, not an investigation team. Your report is passed to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) at City of London Police, which assesses it alongside other reports. Cases with viable leads or links to wider crime are sent to a local police force for investigation. Many individual reports are not investigated separately but contribute to disruption work.
Local police — 101
When to use
If a specific suspect is known to the child (e.g. a person from school, a local seller, an adult the child can identify) or if the scam involved threats, blackmail, or sexual coercion
How to contact
Call 101 and explain you are reporting a fraud against a child where a suspect is known, or that the offence involves coercion. Ask for a crime reference number.
What to expect
Local police can investigate where there is an identifiable suspect or a safeguarding element. If the scam includes threats to share images, treat it as sextortion and follow that pathway. Police may make a safeguarding referral to children's services.
CIFAS protective registration
When to use
If the child's identity details have been shared with the scammer (full name, date of birth, address, ID documents) and you are worried about identity fraud
How to contact
Apply for protective registration at cifas.org.uk. There is a small fee. For under-18s, a parent or guardian applies on the child's behalf.
What to expect
A CIFAS marker tells lenders and providers to carry out extra identity checks before opening accounts in the child's name. It lasts two years and can be renewed. It does not affect a credit score.
The bank or payment provider
When to use
As soon as money has been sent — every minute matters for recall
How to contact
Phone the number on the back of the card or in the banking app. Ask for the fraud team. If the payment was by bank transfer, ask the bank to attempt recall under the Contingent Reimbursement Model Code.
What to expect
Some banks may refund authorised push payment fraud, particularly where a child has been deceived. Card payments may be reversed through chargeback. Gift card payments are very difficult to recover but should still be reported.
Evidence checklist
Gather this information before or during your report. Do not delay reporting while collecting evidence — but preserve what you can.
- Screenshots of all messages, including profile name, handle, and timestamps
- The full URL of the scammer's profile or listing
- Bank statements or app screenshots showing payments — date, amount, reference, recipient
- Photos of any gift cards purchased, including the serial numbers and PINs (even if used)
- Email headers if the scam came by email — open the message and use 'show original' to capture full sender details
- A short written account by the child (or by you, with their words) of what happened in order
- Any phone numbers used, including the country code
- Action Fraud reference number (NFRN) and any bank fraud reference, once issued
What to say
You do not need to use a script, but this template may help if you are nervous about making the call. Adapt it to your circumstances.
"I am reporting a fraud against my child, who is [age]. On [date] my child was contacted on [platform] by a user calling themselves [username / profile URL]. They [brief description — e.g. offered to buy in-game currency / pretended to be a recruiter / claimed to sell concert tickets]. My child sent [amount] by [payment method] to [account or wallet details]. The scammer then [what happened next — e.g. blocked my child / demanded more money / disappeared]. My child has not shared images. I have screenshots of all messages and payments. I would like a reference number and any guidance on next steps."
What happens next
Action Fraud will issue a National Fraud Reference Number, usually within minutes for online reports. The NFIB assesses reports for investigative leads — for example, a bank account or username linked to multiple reports. Most individual cases are not separately investigated, but data feeds national disruption work, including bank account closures and platform takedowns. If a child appears to be at safeguarding risk (for example money-mule recruitment, sextortion, or grooming), Action Fraud or the NFIB can refer to local police and children's services. You can check the status of your report at actionfraud.police.uk using your reference number.
What not to do
- ✗Do not reply to the scammer, even to demand the money back — it confirms the account is active and invites more contact
- ✗Do not send any further money, gift cards, or codes, no matter what threats are made
- ✗Do not share more personal details to 'verify' or 'release' anything — that is always part of the scam
- ✗Do not let the child try to trace, hack, or 'test' the scammer — leave investigation to police
- ✗Do not blame the child or take their phone away as punishment — they need to feel safe enough to tell you everything
Frequently asked questions
Will my child get the money back?
Sometimes, but often not. Card and bank-transfer payments have the best chance of recovery if reported within hours. Gift cards, cryptocurrency, and money sent abroad are rarely recoverable. Speak to your bank's fraud team straight away and ask about the Contingent Reimbursement Model Code if the payment was a bank transfer.
Will the police investigate?
Most individual fraud reports are not separately investigated by a local force. Action Fraud passes reports to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, which looks for patterns and viable leads. If a suspect is known locally, or there is a safeguarding element, your case is more likely to be sent to your local police force. You can still ask 101 to record a crime where a specific suspect can be identified.
What if my child is too embarrassed to tell me everything?
Reassure them that they are not in trouble and that they are the victim of a crime. Let them know that adults are scammed in exactly the same ways every day. You can also offer them Childline (0800 1111) or a trusted adult to talk to first. You do not need every detail to make a report — Action Fraud can be updated later.
Is this also a safeguarding matter?
It can be. If the scam involved an adult contacting your child directly, grooming them, recruiting them as a money mule, threatening them, or asking for images, it crosses into safeguarding. Report to Action Fraud and to either CEOP (ceop.police.uk) or local police, and consider telling the school's DSL so they can support your child.
Sources and further information
- Action Fraud — Report Fraud or Cybercrime — Action Fraud / City of London Police
- Take Five to Stop Fraud — UK Finance
- Citizens Advice — Check If Something Might Be a Scam — Citizens Advice
- CIFAS — Protective Registration — CIFAS
This guidance is for informational purposes. It is not a substitute for emergency services or professional safeguarding support. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999 (UK) or 911 (US) now.
Was this page helpful?
Last reviewed: 2026-05-17. This page provides general educational information, not legal or professional safeguarding advice. UK helplines and legislation may change — verify current details with the relevant organisation.