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United Kingdom (GB)

The United Kingdom — comprising England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland — is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy of 68 million people, and one of the world's leading economies, cultural powerhouses, and global cities.

Capital: London
Region: Europe
Language: English
Currency: GBP (£)
Cost of living: Expensive (index 78)
Emergency: 999
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Scam Warnings

Common scams targeting expats in United Kingdom.

The UK loses over £2 billion per year to fraud and scams — one of the highest per-capita rates in the world. New arrivals are particularly vulnerable because they are less familiar with UK institutions, local procedures, and legitimate communication styles. The most prevalent scams target immigration status, HMRC tax, bank accounts, and housing. From 4 December 2025, the UK's national fraud and cybercrime reporting service rebranded from Action Fraud to Report Fraud, run by the City of London Police: reportfraud.police.uk / 0300 123 2040. Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud — where victims are tricked into transferring money — has a mandatory reimbursement scheme from October 2024 (up to £85,000). The UK is part of the SEPA payment zone. Consumers have a 14-day cancellation right for distance contracts under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013.

HMRC Tax Scam (Phone / SMS / Email)

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Criminals impersonate HMRC (His Majesty's Revenue and Customs) via cold calls, text messages, and emails. They claim you owe unpaid tax and threaten immediate arrest, legal action, or deportation unless you pay immediately — typically demanding payment via gift cards (iTunes, Amazon), bank transfer, or Bitcoin. HMRC never cold-calls to demand immediate payment, never accepts gift card payment, and never threatens arrest in a first communication. This is the most reported tax scam type in the UK and disproportionately targets new arrivals who may be uncertain about their UK tax obligations.

How to spot it
  • - Unexpected call or text claiming you owe tax with threats of immediate arrest or deportation
  • - Payment demanded via gift cards (iTunes, Google Play, Amazon), cryptocurrency, or unusual wire transfer
  • - Caller asks for your National Insurance number or bank details over the phone
  • - Text message claiming you are owed a tax refund with a link to enter bank details
  • - Pressure to act immediately: "officers have been dispatched", "your case will be escalated in 30 minutes"
  • - Email address not ending in @hmrc.gov.uk (though addresses can be spoofed)
What to do: Hang up or delete the message immediately. If you have a genuine concern about UK tax, call HMRC directly on 0300 200 3300 (income tax) using the number from gov.uk — never use any number provided in suspicious communications. Report the scam to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040. Forward suspicious HMRC emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk.

Authorised Push Payment (APP) Fraud / Bank Transfer Scam

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The UK's fastest-growing fraud category. Criminals impersonate banks, solicitors, landlords, HMRC, or your employer and convince you to transfer money urgently to a "safe account" or pay fraudulent invoices. Common scripts: "your account has been compromised and you must move funds to a secure account we have set up"; "this is your solicitor — the bank details for your property purchase have changed" (email compromise); "Hi Mum/Dad, I have a new phone — can you transfer urgently?" From October 2024, the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) mandates that UK banks reimburse APP fraud victims up to £85,000 — this covers 99.8% of all Faster Payments APP cases by volume. Report to your bank immediately.

How to spot it
  • - Your bank calls asking you to urgently transfer money to a new "safe account" — banks never do this
  • - An invoice arrives with changed bank account details from a supplier, solicitor, or landlord (always call to verify)
  • - A "family member" messages from an unknown new number claiming an emergency and asking for urgent transfer
  • - Feeling of pressure or urgency that prevents you from taking time to verify
  • - Solicitor sends property purchase bank details by unsecured email — always verify by phone before transferring
What to do: Never transfer money based on a phone call from your bank — hang up and call back using the number on your card or on the official bank website. Always call solicitors or suppliers to verbally verify any bank detail changes before transferring. From October 2024, if you are a victim of APP fraud, report to your bank immediately for reimbursement of up to £85,000. Also report to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040.

Visa and Immigration Scam

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Unregistered "immigration advisers" and fraudulent websites charge large fees for visa services available free on gov.uk, submit fraudulent applications causing visa refusals and entry bans, or charge for EU Settlement Scheme applications which are free. Fake "UKVI" or "Home Office" websites are designed to look like gov.uk. Post-Brexit scams target EU citizens claiming they must pay to "re-register" their status. Only Immigration Advisers Authority (OISC)-registered advisers and regulated solicitors are legally permitted to provide immigration advice in the UK.

How to spot it
  • - Anyone offering immigration advice who is not OISC-registered or a regulated solicitor — verify at oisc.gov.uk
  • - Charging fees for EU Settlement Scheme applications — this is free on gov.uk
  • - Guarantees of visa approval
  • - Website that looks like gov.uk but has a different domain (e.g. gov.uk.visa-apply.net, ukvi-register.com)
  • - Social media ads promising fast visa approvals with minimal requirements
  • - Adviser suggests providing false information on your application
What to do: All UK visa applications are made exclusively on gov.uk — there is no other official website. Use only OISC-registered advisers (check oisc.gov.uk) or solicitors regulated by the SRA. If you have been scammed, report to Report Fraud (reportfraud.police.uk) and to the OISC at oisc.gov.uk.

Rental Scam (Phantom Listings)

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Fraudsters post fake rental listings on Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, SpareRoom, and occasionally Rightmove and Zoopla — using stolen photos of real properties — requesting deposits for properties that do not exist, are not available, or are not theirs to let. The UK housing shortage creates urgency that scammers exploit. This scam disproportionately targets new arrivals searching for accommodation from abroad before they arrive. The "landlord is overseas" narrative is the single most common indicator.

How to spot it
  • - Rent significantly below market for the area and property type
  • - "Landlord is abroad" and unable to show the property — "my agent will post the keys after deposit"
  • - Deposit requested before any in-person viewing or verified video tour
  • - Listing photos appear on multiple listings with different contact details (reverse image search)
  • - Payment requested via wire transfer, Western Union, cryptocurrency, or personal PayPal
  • - Landlord refuses a video call with the property physically visible and unlocked
What to do: Never pay a deposit before viewing the property in person or, at minimum, via a verified live video call. Search listing photos via Google Reverse Image Search. Only pay deposits by UK bank transfer to a named account and obtain a written receipt. Check that the landlord is who they claim to be. Report fraud to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk and to the listing platform.

"Hi Mum / Hi Dad" WhatsApp Family Impersonation Scam

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A message arrives from an unknown number claiming to be your child, partner, or close family member who "has a new phone and lost all contacts". After a brief emotional reconnect, they ask you to urgently transfer money for an emergency (broken phone, stuck abroad, medical bill, overdue rent). The message is convincing because it uses correct names and personal details harvested from social media.

How to spot it
  • - Message from an unknown number claiming to be a family member with a new phone
  • - Emotional urgency about a crisis (stuck abroad, phone broken, account frozen)
  • - Asks for a money transfer before giving you time to verify by calling their real known number
  • - Discourages you from calling the family member ("my phone is broken / I can't take calls right now")
  • - Amount requested is just believable enough not to immediately trigger alarm
What to do: Always call the family member on their known, saved number before transferring any money. Ask a question only they would know. If confirmed a scam, block and report. Report to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk.

Investment Fraud / FCA Clone Firm Scam

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Criminals create clone websites and branding of legitimate FCA-regulated investment firms, pension providers, or bond platforms. They offer high-yield bonds, cryptocurrency investment portfolios, or trading accounts, directing victims to websites that mirror real regulated firms. Once funds are deposited, they are stolen. The FCA operates the ScamSmart tool at fca.org.uk/scamsmart specifically for checking UK investment firm legitimacy. Clone firm fraud causes some of the largest individual losses of any UK scam type.

How to spot it
  • - Cold call, social media ad, or email offering an investment opportunity with returns 3–15% above market rates
  • - Company name matches a real FCA-registered firm but the phone number, email, or website address is slightly different
  • - No firm reference number (FRN) provided, or FRN does not match the actual company on the FCA register
  • - Pressure to invest quickly before a "limited time" opportunity closes
  • - Request to keep the investment confidential
  • - Unable to verify the firm's address as a real operating business location
What to do: Always check the FCA register (register.fca.org.uk) before investing. Use the FCA's dedicated ScamSmart tool at fca.org.uk/scamsmart to check for clone firm warnings. Call the FCA consumer helpline: 0800 111 6768. Report suspected investment fraud to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk and to the FCA.

Parcel / Royal Mail Delivery Scam

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Text messages claiming to be from Royal Mail, DHL, DPD, or Evri say you have a missed delivery and direct you to a phishing website to pay a small "redelivery charge" or "customs fee". The fake website captures your card details. Royal Mail does not request payment via text message link; genuine customs fees are invoiced by the carrier in writing, not via SMS.

How to spot it
  • - Unsolicited text about a parcel you were not expecting
  • - Link does not go to royalmail.com or the official carrier domain
  • - Request for card payment of a small amount (£1–5) — designed to capture full card details
  • - "Your parcel will be returned in 24 hours" urgency phrasing
  • - Royal Mail genuine "something for you" cards are physical cards left at your address — not text messages
What to do: Never click links in unexpected delivery texts. Go directly to the carrier's official website (royalmail.com) and use your tracking number. Royal Mail leaves physical "something for you" cards for failed deliveries. Report phishing texts by forwarding to 7726 (free, works on all UK networks) and phishing emails to report@phishing.gov.uk.

NHS / GP Registration Scam (Targeting New Arrivals)

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Scammers target new arrivals with offers to "fast-track" NHS registration, obtain a GP, or resolve immigration health surcharge issues for a fee. NHS registration is free and done directly with a local GP surgery. There are no third-party services with special access. This scam is particularly effective on new arrivals who are unfamiliar with the NHS system.

How to spot it
  • - Any offer to register you with the NHS or find you a GP for a payment
  • - Claims of "priority registration" or "guaranteed NHS number" services
  • - Request for your passport, BRP card, or NHS number to "register" you through a third-party portal
  • - Advertised on social media or in expat community groups targeting new arrivals
What to do: Register with a GP surgery directly — find your nearest NHS GP at nhs.uk. NHS registration is free for all eligible residents. The Immigration Health Surcharge is paid directly through the official UK Visas and Immigration service on gov.uk — not through any third party. Report to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk.

Reporting

Where to report: Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) — UK's national fraud and cybercrime reporting service, run by the City of London Police from 4 December 2025: reportfraud.police.uk / 0300 123 2040 (available 24/7). Forward suspicious texts to 7726. Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk. Report scam websites to the NCSC at ncsc.gov.uk. FCA ScamSmart for investment fraud: fca.org.uk/scamsmart. Police emergency: 999. Police non-emergency: 101.

Consumer helpline: Citizens Advice Adviceline: 0800 144 8848 (free, England, Mon–Fri 9am–5pm) — citizensadvice.org.uk. Financial Ombudsman Service (for financial fraud involving regulated firms): 0800 023 4567 — financial-ombudsman.org.uk. National Debtline (if chased for fraudulent debts): 0808 808 4000. Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion credit reports (check for fraudulent accounts opened in your name): experian.co.uk, equifax.co.uk, transunion.co.uk.