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159 works in the same way as 101 for the police or 111 for the NHS. It’s the number you can trust to get you through to your bank safely and securely, every time. So if you think someone is trying to manipulate you into handing over money or personal details – stop, hang up and call 159 to speak directly to your bank.

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How it works 159 works in the same way as 101 for the police or 111 for the NHS. It’s the number you can trust to get you through to your bank safely and securely, every time. So if you think someone is trying to trick you into handing over money or personal details –…

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A guide to protecting yourself from Romance Fraud.

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Romance Fraud Support Pack - National Version

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Romance Fraud Support Pack - National Version

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Victim resource pack for victims of Romance Fraud

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Produced by Nottinghamshire Police

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Courier Fraud Warning: Stay Wise, Don't Compromise

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Courier Fraud Warning: Stay Wise, Don't Compromise

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🚨 Scammers often pose as police officers, bank officials or other authorities to trick you into handing over money or personal details. Stay wise, don’t compromise!

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Courier Fraud Warning: Stay Wise, Don't Compromise

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LoveSaid deliver support to people who think they might have been defrauded and their friends/family. They have advice and resources to help

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This link will take you to our Business page, giving advice and resources on how to keep your organisation safe online

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Giving you the knowledge and tools you need to stay ahead of scams.

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Nobody is immune from fraud. The criminals behind it target people online and in their homes, often emotionally manipulating their victims before they steal money or personal data.

But there is something we can do. By staying vigilant and always taking a moment to stop, think and check whenever we're approached, we can help to protect ourselves and each other from fraud.

Did you know?

In just one year, 1 in 17 adultswere victims of fraud

Source: Crime Survey for England and Wales, year ending September 2023

What's the risk of fraud happening to you? Find out why anybody can become a victim of fraud and why everyone should take steps to protect themselves.

Find out how to spot the tactics and techniques commonly used by fraudsters, to help reduce your risk of becoming a victim.

Find out what you can do today to help protect yourself, your loved ones and your business from fraud.

Learn how to access practical advice and support and what steps you can take if you've lost money or data.

Reporting fraud

If you've been a victim of fraud, report it now.

Campaign partners

The National Campaign Against Fraud is brought to you by UK government in partnership with City of London Police, National Cyber Security Centre and National Crime Agency.

Visit the Action Fraud website.

Visit the NCSC website.

Visit the NCA website.

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Nobody is immune from fraud. Learn how to protect yourself from fraudsters by staying vigilant and taking a moment to stop and think. Are you at risk?

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Citizens Advice give information on TPS and how to register.

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Stop getting nuisance calls

There are some actions you can take to stop getting nuisance calls that you don't want.

You shouldn't get nuisance calls if you didn't give the caller your number - for example:

cold calls trying to sell you something you don't want or need, like double glazing

recorded or automated messages telling you you're due compensation, perhaps for a mis-sold insurance policy such as PPI

If you're getting calls about PPI or accidents

Companies calling you about PPI claims, personal injury claims or other claims can't call you unless you've told them they can.

If they call without your permission, you can report them to the Information Commissioner's Office.

It's helpful if you know the number they called from and the date and time they called. If you don't have all this information, you can give other details of the call - for example, the name of the company that called you.

The Information Commissioner will investigate and can fine the company who called.

Register with the Telephone Preference Service

The best way to reduce nuisance calls is to register for free with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS).

They'll add you to their list of numbers that don't want to receive sales and marketing calls. It's against the law for sales people from the UK or overseas to call numbers registered with TPS.

Registering won't stop automated marketing calls, also known as 'computer generated calls'. This is because the law only applies to people not computers. You should talk to your telephone provider about how to stop these calls.

Registering with TPS also won't stop calls from scammers. Find out how to report a scam.

To register with TPS you'll need your:

The quickest way to register is to fill in the TPS online registration form on the TPS website.

If you can't use the online form, you can register with TPS by phone instead:
TPS 24 hour automated registration
Telephone: 0345 070 0707

You can also register from your mobile phone by texting 'TPS' and your email address to 85095.

If you still get nuisance calls 28 days after registering with TPS, it might be because you gave the caller your number. Tell the individual caller you don't want to be contacted again, and they should stop calling you.

You might also still get calls from companies that don't follow the regulations. You can complain about companies that ignore the law on the TPS website.

If anyone says they're from TPS and asks you for money to register, it's a scam - find out how to report a scam.

To try to prevent the problem happening again you should always check any forms that you fill in for tick boxes that say something like "I give permission for third parties to contact me by phone" or "I give you permission to contact me by phone". Don't tick the boxes if you don't want to be contacted.

Block nuisance calls

There are products to block some calls (like international calls or withheld numbers) but be careful they don't also block calls you want. Ask your phone provider if they have a service to block some numbers, or you can install a call blocking device on your phone yourself.

Ofcom has information about the different services your phone provider may have to tackle nuisance calls.

Which? has advice on blocking calls, including reviews of call blocking devices.

If you think it's a scam call

Scams usually involve people being tricked into giving money. If you think a caller is trying to run a scam, you should report it. Find out how to report a scam.

Stop getting nuisance texts

If you've given your number to a company in the past they may send you texts. You can tell them to stop sending you texts by replying 'STOP' to the text message. Only reply with 'STOP' if the sender tells you who they are in the text or they're identified in the sent-from number.

If you don't recognise the sender of a nuisance text or it's from an unknown number, don't reply. This will let the sender know your number is active and they might send you more texts or call you.

Report a nuisance call or text

Registering with the Telephone Preference Service will stop you getting nuisance calls, but if someone's still bothering you 28 days after registering, then report them to the Telephone Preference Service.

Registering with the Telephone Preference Service won't stop you getting nuisance texts. Forward the text to 7726 - this spells 'SPAM' on your phone keypad. This will report the sender to your mobile network company. You won't be charged for forwarding a text to 7726.

Reporting nuisance calls or texts also helps regulators track down who's making them. You're under no obligation to do this, but it's quick and easy, and it'll help more people in the long run.

You'll need to have your contact details and the company name or registration number to hand.

You can also report nuisance calls or texts to the Information Commissioner's Office. It's helpful if you know the number that called you and the date and time of the call. If you don't have all this information, you can give other details of the call - for example, the name of the company that called you.

The Information Commissioner's Office will investigate and can take action against whoever has been contacting you.

If you've had a nuisance text that's advertising something, you can also report it to the Advertising Standards Authority.

Stop calls and texts from a charity

If you want to stop calls and texts from a charity, you should register with the Telephone Preference Service.

Charities shouldn't make fundraising calls to you if you've registered with this service. This includes charities registered in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

You can also contact the Fundraising Preference Service if you want to stop getting calls and texts from a charity registered in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. They'll tell them to remove your contact details within 28 days. The best way to do this is to register on their website. You can register over the phone if you prefer.
Fundraising Preference Service
Telephone: 0300 3033 517

Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm
Saturday, 9am to midday

Calls to this number can cost up to 10p a minute from a landline, or between 3p and 40p a minute from a mobile (your phone supplier can tell you how much you'll pay).

You'll need to have your contact details and the charity name or registration number to hand.

Complaining about calls or texts from a charity

You can:

You can report nuisance calls or texts to the Information Commissioner's Office. They can fine companies that break the law.

If you're getting calls where no one's there (called silent or abandoned calls), report them to Ofcom.

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Action to take to stop getting nuisance calls and text messages

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The Neighbourhood Matters messaging system enables residents, businesses and community groups to keep in touch with local policing teams. You can receive updates on crimes, latest information on on-going incidents and learn more about what we're doing in your community.

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Welcome to Neighbourhood Matters

Find out what's really happening in your area and keep in touch with West Mercia Police through our free messaging service.

The Neighbourhood Matters messaging system enables residents, businesses and community groups to keep in touch with local policing teams. You can receive updates on crimes, latest information on on-going incidents and learn more about what we're doing in your community.

You're invited to sign up and become a registered recipient of messages of information, crime alerts or witness appeals local to the area in which you live or work by email, text or telephone.

Don't worry, we won't bombard you with every incident. You can choose exactly the type of alert you wish to receive.

We'd really like to hear from you so why not ask your family, friends and colleagues to register too? Let's get talking!

Please note that this service is not for reporting crimes or incidents - to make a report please contact West Mercia Police via the West Mercia Police website or dial 999 in an emergency.

Look up your local Safer Neighbourhood Team

Find your local Safer Neighbourhood Team and be able to contact them directly by entering a street address or postcode below:

Latest West Mercia Alerts

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.

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Neighbourhood Matters is a free messaging service brought to you by West Mercia Police where you decide when and how you hear about the issues that matter most to you.

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Get help with scams with information from Citizens Advice Website

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You can contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline if you:

think you might have found a scam

need advice about scams

want to report a scam

We'll let you know what to do next, and give you support on the issues you might be facing.

Before you report a scam to us, you should first check our advice on reporting a scam.

Call our helpline

You can contact an adviser by calling the consumer helpline.

Telephone: 0808 223 1133

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm - except on public holidays.

Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.

Talk to us online

You can also chat with an adviser online. Our chat service is available 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. It's not available on public holidays.

If you can't see a chat box on the page, it might mean there are no advisers available. It's worth waiting for a few minutes and then trying again.

We'll need to ask you for a few details, including your postcode. Read our privacy policy to find out how we store and use your personal information.

Some 'ad blocker' software stops chat working. If you use an ad blocker, make sure you add citizensadvice.org.uk as a trusted site.

Use our form

You can report a scam using our form. You can say on the form if you would like us to email or call you back.

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Find out how to contact our Scams Action service for advice about online scams.

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CIFAS offers help to individuals. There are links for Scam advice and how to apply for Protective Registration with CIFAS

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Cifas is the UK's fraud prevention community. For over 30 years we have worked with hundreds of organisations to stop fraud and our community is made up organisations from across the sectors, including most banks, credit providers and telecommunication companies, who join Cifas as members.

How do I find out if Cifas holds information on me?

To find out if we hold information on you then you will need to make a free of charge data subject access request (DSAR). Please note we will also need to verify your identity to progress your DSAR.

The easiest way to do this is to complete our simple online form here.

I have made a DSAR how long does it take to get a response?

We are required by law to respond to your request within a calendar month of receiving a fully completed DSAR application, but we aim wherever possible to reply within 10 working days. Once you have successfully submitted your DSAR you will receive an automatic confirmation email and then further emails to update you on the status of your DSAR while we process it. Make sure you check your spam or junk folder if you haven't received any emails from us.

How do I receive the information from Cifas?

Once you have made a DSAR, we will respond to you via email from noreply@cifas.org.uk (unless you have specifically requested our response be sent by mail to you). Please note this email address cannot receive messages.

How do I interpret the information Cifas sends me?

When you receive your DSAR response from Cifas we will include a PDF attachment. This contains all the information relevant to your DSAR application.
Where we DO hold information about you

If we do hold information, then here are a few key terms to look out for to help make sense of the response.

'National Fraud Database entry filed by' - this tells you which organisation has recorded the information in your details.

'Date recorded' - tells you the date the information was recorded to the database. The information is retained for a period of six years from this date.

'Case Type', 'Reasons for filing' and 'Cifas filing' - gives you details as to why the information has been recorded to our database.

Our response may also include a list of organisations who have searched using your details. These will be searches carried out following an application made to them, or as part of account monitoring. Contact the organisation named for more information.

You may receive a response that says we hold no information about you but your mobile number or email address only were recorded in other fraud risk cases. This means that an organisation recorded the mobile number or email address that you provided to us but no other details about you in a fraud risk case.

Where we do NOT hold information about you

If we do not hold information about you then you will still receive a PDF attachment with content for you but it will clearly state that 'there is no Cifas data directly associated with you on our systems'.

What can I do when I receive a response?

What you do when you receive a response will vary:
Where we DO hold information about you

If you receive a response confirming there is data on our systems in your details, you will need to contact the organisation responsible for recording this data if you would like any more information. Details of the organisation will appear on your report against the entry - National/Internal Fraud Database entry filed by. You can read about contacting the organisation that recorded the information here.
Where we do NOT hold information about you

If you receive a response confirming we hold no data on our systems that match your details but are still experiencing issues, then you may need to contact other fraud prevention agencies or credit reference agencies.

Fraud Prevention Agencies

Credit Reference Agencies

You may receive a response that we hold no information about you but your mobile number or email address only were recorded by an organisation in other fraud risk cases. In that scenario we recommend that you contact the organisation to ensure that they are not disadvantaging you. You can share your DSAR response with them.

How long does Cifas hold information?

Information can be held for up to six years in the Cifas database.

How do I remove information from Cifas?

If you receive the results of your DSAR and want to challenge the information we hold about you, then the first thing you should do is contact the organisation who recorded the information to Cifas. Click here for a step by step guide on how to make a complaint.

If, following the review by the organisation and being sent their final response, you are still unhappy with the record you can ask Cifas to conduct an independent review of your complaint. Click here to use our complaints form.

What is Cifas?

Cifas is the UK's fraud prevention service, managing the largest database of instances of fraudulent conduct in the country. Our members are organisations from all sectors, sharing their data across those sectors to reduce instances of fraud and financial crime. Throughout the UK, our experts and services help protect individuals and organisations from the growing and increasingly sophisticated threat of fraud and financial crime. Since 1988, Cifas has helped its members and customers protect themselves from billions of pounds worth of fraud losses. You can read more about Cifas here.

What is Protective Registration?

Protective Registration protects your identity against impersonation attempts by third parties. Protective Registration works by registering your details on the Cifas database to make the organisations we work with aware that you feel your identity is at risk. Once registered, any applications received using your details will be checked to confirm they are genuine, and not from a third party attempting to impersonate you. Protective Registration does not guarantee fraudulent applications will be intercepted, but it does reduce the risk of successful impersonation attempts. To apply online, click here.

How do I protect myself from scams and identity fraud?

Cifas has partnered with Citizens Advice to provide advice and to support to members of the public who are concerned they have been a victim of a scam. Click here to find the right Citizens Advice service to help you. If you are interested in learning more about how to protect yourself from identity fraud then click here to read about identity protection.

You can contact us using our general enquiry contact form.

If you have been the victim of identity theft or a scam, please report this to your financial services provider and Action Fraud. Action Fraud is the UK's national fraud and internet crime reporting centre. Please visit their website, or call them on 0300 123 2040.

If you need help or advice on scams you can get advice from the Citizens Advice consumer helpline by calling 0808 223 1133.
The service is open from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. The helpline is closed on bank holidays. Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.

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Fraud Prevention for Individuals | Identity Theft Protection | Cifas

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Cifas is well placed to offer individuals advice on identity protection and how to prevent and respond to the different ways fraudsters can impact your finances.

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Three online safety sessions interpreted in BSL or easy read version by LEAD Scotland covering buying second hand devices, Fake ‘Missed Parcel’ Messages and Shopping Online Securely

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LEAD Scotland - Linking Education and Disability

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British Sign Language and Easy Read Versions

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Buying and Selling Second Hand Devices BSL Version Easy Read Version Buying and Selling Second Hand Devices Fake 'Missed Parcel' Messages BSL Version Easy Read Vers...

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BSL Friends Against Scams Awareness Session 

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BSL Friends Against Scams Awareness Session 

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Friends Against Scams awareness session interpreted in BSL by Bolton Deaf Society.

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British Sign Language Interpreted - Friends Against Scams Awareness Session

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Practical information about your data protection and information rights

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Find out about your data protection and information rights including how to make a SAR, how to make an FOI request, domestic CCTV and data protection, protecting yourself against nuisance marketing and more.

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We live in a data-driven world. Almost every transaction and interaction you have with most organisations involves you sharing personal data, such as your name, address and birth date. You share data online too, every time you visit a website, search for or buy something, use social media or send an email.

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Cyber & Fraud Protect - Family Resources

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Cyber & Fraud Protect - Family Resources

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This link will take you to our Parent/Guardian page where you will find lots of Resources and Advice for keeping your Children Safe Online

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The NCSC's cyber security advice to protect you and your family, and the technology you rely on.

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Provides advice on how to families can enjoy a happier, safer digital life.

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Enter your email and telephone number to see if your details have been compromised in a data breach

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Pastes you were found in

A paste is information that has been published to a publicly facing website designed to share content and is often an early indicator of a data breach. Pastes are automatically imported and often removed shortly after having been posted. Using the 1Password password manager helps you ensure all your passwords are strong and unique such that a breach of one service doesn't put your other services at risk.

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Have I Been Pwned: Check if your email has been compromised in a data breach

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Have I Been Pwned allows you to search across multiple data breaches to see if your email address or phone number has been compromised.

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When reporting a crime to Report Fraud, please include as much information as you are able to in the report.

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A collaboration between West Mercia Police and Worcester University Media Team to mobilise young people to protect their family and friends from fraud.