Where to Get Help and Support After Fraud or Cyber Crime on Report Fraud

Updated

Report Fraud (reportfraud.police.uk) points people affected by fraud or cyber crime to a "Get help and support" section that lists several organisations, each covering a different need: practical advice, financial guidance, emotional support or specialist help for older people. The site serves people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; if you live in Scotland, it directs you to report via 101 instead. Use the list below to pick the organisation that matches what you need, and use the site's report tool if you also want to pass details to the police.

Who the support is for

Report Fraud says it is there for the 4.6 million people affected by cyber crime and fraud each year, and that people in England, Wales or Northern Ireland are the ones it can help. The support section is framed around a simple question: do you need to speak to someone about how cyber crime or fraud is affecting you? If the answer is yes, the listed organisations are the starting point.

The organisations listed and what each is for

Organisation Best for What the site says it offers
Age UK People aged 60 or over Help dealing with the long-term effects of fraud
Citizens Advice Checking whether something is fraud or cyber crime Advice to confirm what you are dealing with
Counselling Directory Emotional and mental health support Information on counselling and listings of counsellors across the UK
Stop! Think Fraud Prevention and vigilance Learning how to protect yourself by stopping and thinking
Money Helper Financial guidance Support for consumers seeking to improve their financial lives
Victim Support Ongoing help after a crime Listed as a support organisation (details continue beyond the excerpt shown)

How to choose

  • You are over 60 and the effects are lasting: start with Age UK.
  • You are unsure whether what happened counts as fraud: use Citizens Advice to check.
  • You need to talk to a counsellor: use the Counselling Directory to find information and local listings.
  • You want to avoid it happening again: read the guidance from Stop! Think Fraud.
  • Money problems are the main concern: turn to Money Helper.
  • You want support as a victim of crime: contact Victim Support.

Reporting and support work together

The site separates two actions. "Make a report" lets you tell the site what happened and get help reporting it to the police. "Get help and support" is for the human side: listening, practical guidance and specialist organisations. If you have been affected, doing both is reasonable: report so the incident is recorded, then use the support list for the help you actually need.

Practical steps

  1. Confirm you are in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. In Scotland, report via 101.
  2. Decide your main need: reporting, prevention, money, emotional support or specialist help for older people.
  3. Open the matching organisation from the table above and follow its own process.
  4. If you also want the incident passed to the police, use the site's "Make a report" tool and describe what happened.
  5. For general learning, use the site's search bar to explore its articles and help guides on types of cyber crime and fraud.

Common sticking points

  • Expecting one organisation to do everything. The site presents a network, not a single service; matching your need to the right organisation saves time.
  • Skipping the report because you only want support. The two paths are separate, and reporting does not replace support or the other way round.
  • Looking for in-person counselling directly on Report Fraud. The site links out to the Counselling Directory rather than providing counselling itself.
  • Assuming the same route applies across the UK. The Scotland instruction to use 101 is explicit and worth checking before you start.