How to Report Cyber Crime
Anyone can find themselves the victim of Cybercrime.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger or risk of harm dial 999 now.
Reporting a live Cyber Attack 24/7
If you are a business, charity or other organisation which is currently suffering a live cyber attack (in progress), please call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 immediately.
This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Alternatively you can call your local Police at any time on 101.
Reporting a cyber attack which isn't ongoing
Please report online to Action Fraud, the UK's national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime. You can report cybercrime online at any time using the online reporting tool, which will guide you through simple questions to identify what has happened. Action Fraud advisors can also provide the help, support and guidance you need.
Alternatively, you can call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 (textphone 0300 123 2050).
When you report a fraud to Action Fraud, you are given a police crime reference number, and your case will be referred to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), which is run by the police.
In some cases, the police and other law enforcement agencies may want to contact you for further details, so it's important that you provide your correct contact details and keep any relevant information about the crime.
Although the police cannot investigate every report individually, the information you provide will aid them. The police use your information to build up intelligence about cybercrime, which includes who is committing what crimes and against whom. This contributes to making the UK a more hostile place for cybercriminals to operate and helps to keep other potential victims safe.
When you report to Action Fraud, you can also choose to have your details passed on to Victim Support, a national charity that helps those affected by crime. If you take up this option, you will then be contacted by someone from the charity and offered free and confidential emotional support and practical help.
Reporting a Cybersecurity Incident
When you suffer a cyber-attack or a related cybersecurity incident, and if you are a business, you might need to report it to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
Under the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules, from the 25th of May 2018, it is mandatory that you also report data breaches to the ICO within 72 hours.
Action Fraud, the Police and the Cyber Resilience Centre will not report any contact with them to the ICO.
To help a business deal, we have created a Cyber Incident Response Pack, which contains documents to help support your business plan in response to a cyber incident.
Guidance & Support
You can contact the Cyber Resilience Centre for guidance and support during normal office hours at 0161 706 0940 or by dropping us an email. We also provide free cyber security guidance on the website.
We have created the Cyber Security Guide for Small Businesses. It provides small businesses with an introduction to cyber, the different types of cybercrime and further resources and support.