Scam and fraud losses in the UK often arise through authorised push payment fraud, card fraud, impersonation scams, purchase scams, invoice fraud and other deceptive payment schemes.
If you transferred funds from a UK bank account, a refund claim may be possible – even if your bank has already refused.
Most people who come to us have already been through something distressing. Money has left their account – sometimes a significant amount – and they are not sure whether anything can be done about it.
Scam and fraud claims exist to answer exactly that question. They look at whether the bank, payment provider, or card issuer acted fairly. Whether the fraud could reasonably have been detected, whether they had obligations to warn you, and whether a refund may be appropriate depending on the circumstances.
These claims cover a wide range of situations: bank transfer scams, purchase fraud, romance scams, impersonation fraud, investment scams, invoice interception, and card fraud. The payment method matters. So does the bank’s conduct, the timing of transactions, and the evidence available. Our job is to assess whether there may be a valid basis for a claim – and, if appropriate, pursue it on your behalf.
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Although scams take different forms, many follow a recognisable pattern. The fraudster creates trust, urgency or fear, gives a plausible explanation for the payment, and keeps the victim focused on completing the transaction before doubts can arise.
Impersonation and urgency: A scammer may pretend to be from your bank, the police, HMRC, a retailer, a builder, a solicitor or another trusted organisation and pressure you to act quickly.
False confidence: The fraudster may use convincing websites, cloned documents, fake invoices, spoofed telephone numbers or professional-sounding emails to make the request appear genuine.
Payment manipulation: You may be asked to transfer money to a so-called safe account, pay a revised invoice, make an investment, send a deposit for goods, or release funds to solve an alleged emergency.
Post-payment concealment: After the transfer, the fraudster may delay, provide excuses, ask for more money, or disappear completely.
Recovery fraud: Some victims are later contacted again by criminals claiming they can recover the lost money for a fee, which is itself another scam.
Many people only discover what happened after the funds have already left their account. That does not necessarily mean the matter ends there. Depending on the circumstances, there may still be a basis to ask the bank or another provider to review the case, consider a refund or reconsider an earlier refusal.
In some cases, you may be able to recover your money. This depends on how the scam happened and how your bank or payment provider responded.
Banks are generally expected to have systems in place to detect and prevent fraud. If those protections were not applied appropriately, you may be able to make a complaint and seek a refund. Each case is assessed on its own circumstances.
If you think you’ve been scammed, it’s important to act quickly:
Taking early action can help protect your position and support any complaint you may wish to make.
Yes, in many cases you may still be able to raise a complaint.
This is often referred to as authorised push payment (APP) fraud, where someone is persuaded to send money themselves. Even though the payment was authorised, your bank may still be required to consider a refund depending on the circumstances and how the transaction was handled.
You may have grounds to complain if, for example:
A case review looks at what happened and whether the expected standards were met.
Cases can involve a wide range of scam types, including:
Each case is different, but the key issue is whether you were misled and whether appropriate protections were in place.
No, you don’t have to use a claims management company.
You can make a complaint yourself for free directly to your bank or the business involved. If you’re not satisfied with the outcome, you may be able to refer your case to the Financial Ombudsman Service or, where applicable, the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
A claims management company can support you through the process if you choose.
You can request a free initial review to understand what options may be available.
This typically involves:
There’s no obligation to proceed, so you can decide your next steps based on the information provided.
You are not required to use our services to pursue your claim. You can also seek further advice or shop around subject to any time limits within which a claim must be made.
It is possible for you to present the claim for free, either to the bank, business or person against whom you wish to complain or to the Financial Ombudsman Service or the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, whichever is applicable to your claim.
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