How to Protect Yourself from Cyber Crime and Fraud, According to Report Fraud

Report Fraud (reportfraud.police.uk) is the UK's reporting and support service for cyber crime and fraud in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Its "Protect yourself" section is the place to start if you want to reduce your risk: it explains how to recognise different types of cyber crime and fraud and how to guard against them, and it points to partner organisations such as Stop! Think Fraud for further guidance. The site is aimed at people who live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland; if you live in Scotland, it directs you to report via 101.

What the "Protect yourself" section covers

The site describes the section as a way to "find out how to protect yourself from the different types of cyber crime and fraud." In practice, that means:

• Type-by-type guidance — the risks are broken down by category of cyber crime and fraud, so you can look up the specific scenario you're worried about rather than reading generic advice.
• Prevention rather than reaction — the emphasis is on learning how to avoid becoming a victim, alongside the site's separate reporting and support functions.
• A searchable knowledge base — the homepage invites you to "use the search bar to explore our articles and help guides" about cyber crime and fraud and how to protect yourself. This is the fastest route to a specific topic.

Practical steps you can take

1. Start with the "Protect yourself" page

Open the "Protect yourself" section from the homepage and read the guidance for the types of fraud or cyber crime most relevant to you — for example, the kind of contact or transaction you're unsure about. The site's stated purpose for this section is prevention, so treat it as your first reference point.

2. Use the search bar for your specific situation

If you're unsure whether something is a scam, search the site for the scenario (a type of message, purchase, or account issue). The homepage explicitly offers the search bar as the tool for exploring articles and help guides. Expected result: a relevant guide or article rather than a generic list.

3. Check whether it's fraud before you act

The site links to Citizens Advice, which it describes as a service you can use "to check if something might be cyber crime or fraud." If you're uncertain about a contact or offer, this is a sensible cross-check before responding to it or sending money.

4. Build the habit of pausing

Report Fraud links to Stop! Think Fraud, described as helping you "learn how to protect yourself from fraudsters by staying vigilant and taking a moment to stop and think." The practical takeaway is a simple routine: when a message, call or offer creates urgency, stop before you click, pay or share details, and verify through an independent channel.

5. Know where to get support if something goes wrong

Prevention guidance sits alongside the site's "Get help & support" section, which lists organisations including Age UK (for people aged 60 or over dealing with the long-term effects of fraud), Victim Support, Money Helper and the Counselling Directory. Knowing these exist in advance makes it easier to act quickly if you are affected.

Where to go for what

Common sticking points

• Assuming the site is only for reporting. Report Fraud frames itself around three things — reporting, preventing, and learning — so the protection guidance is a core part of the service, not an afterthought.
• Skipping straight to a report when you just want advice. If nothing has happened yet, the "Protect yourself" section and the search bar will get you to relevant guidance faster.
• Forgetting the regional split. The site's reporting and support remit covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland; the site states that people in Scotland should report via 101.

The core message from the site is straightforward: use its type-specific prevention guidance and search tools to recognise risks early, lean on partner resources like Stop! Think Fraud and Citizens Advice when you're unsure, and keep the support links handy in case you or someone you know is affected.