Reporting a scam

If you’ve been scammed or suspect that someone is attempting to scam you or someone you know, you should always report it. Don’t feel embarrassed or ashamed.

How to report a scam

If you or someone else is in immediate danger or risk of harm, phone 999 immediately.

You should report fraud, scams and related cybercrime directly to Action Fraud unless you are requesting a call for service from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

If you report a scam, it gives important information to the authorities that can be used to warn other people.

Request a call for service from the PSNI

You should ask for a call for service when any of these apply:

a fraud is being committed or recently occurred (within 24 hours)
you know the suspect and they live in Northern Ireland
the victim is perceived to be vulnerable, through age, mental or physical impairment, or in need of care and support
you believe it's important to report the incident to police so they can secure and preserve evidence or prevent loss (such as CCTV and recovering large amounts of money transferred from bank accounts before the criminal can remove it)

You can request a call for service report to the PSNI by phoning 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Action Fraud

Action Fraud is the UK's national fraud and internet crime reporting unit.

They offer a central point of contact for information about fraud and financially motivated internet crime.

If you've been scammed, ripped off or conned, there is something you can do about it.

Report fraud to Action Fraud and receive a police crime reference number.

Action Fraud is not an emergency service - dial 999 if you are in immediate danger.

report online at Action Fraud
telephone – Action Fraud 0300 123 2040

If you receive a scam email message, text message or a computer virus, but you haven't lost any money you can report it for information purposes, at:

report suspicious messages to Action Fraud

Consumerline

After reporting the matter to the PSNI or Action Fraud, you can also report the scam to Consumerline.

Scams which are reported to Consumerline may be passed on to the Northern Ireland Trading Standards Service who will gather the details to send on to the National Scams Team.

Help improve this page - send your feedback

What do you want to do?

report a problem

leave feedback

ask a question

Report a problem

Which problem did you find on this page? (Tick all that apply)

A link, button or video is not working

There is a spelling mistake

Information is missing, outdated or wrong

I can't find what I'm looking for

Another issue

You will not receive a reply. We will consider your feedback to help improve the site.

Don't include any personal or financial information, for example National Insurance, credit card numbers, or phone numbers.

Tell us more about the problem you're having with the nidirect website.

Enter your feedback

What is your question about?

Choose a topic for your question:

What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit. Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about your GRONI account, email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme, email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about 60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly. We don't have access to information about you.

Extra comments (optional)

Translation help

Select a language