If you think someone is trying to trick you into handing over money, personal details or a change of salary information........ there is a way to report this with Stop Scams UK.
We have worked with a number of organisations that have been scammed into changing bank details and so parting with large amounts of money.  Often someone in that organisation initially received a phishing email to harvest indentity information.  The relevant HR/Finance officer is then contacted by the hacker posing as the individual (or third party supplier) asking for a change in bank details.  Often the HR/Finance officer will do some checks which might still result in a transfer of funds.  Sometimes the HR/Finance officer believes they have spoken/checked with the bank.  Stop Scams UK have a phone service which advises if you think you are on such a call to stop, hang up and dial 159 to speak directly to your bank.

159 is a secure number that connects you directly to your bank if you think you are being scammed. It works the same way as 101 for the police or 111 for the NHS.

159 will never call you. Only a fraudster will object to you calling 159.

When should I call 159?

•  Someone contacts you saying they are from your bank - even if they are not suspicious.
•  You receive a call asking you to transfer money or make a payment - even if it seems genuine.
•  You receive a call asking you to transfer money or make a payment.
•  You receive a call about a financial matter and it seems suspicious.

Stop Scams UK has full support from key sector regulators including Ofcom, the Financial Conduct Authority and the Information Commissioner’s Office.

We are in the middle of a scams emergency. Scams cause harm and distress to consumers and undermine trust in businesses and economic activity and are all too prevalent. Both industry and government have struggled to respond to the growth in scams, not least because of the speed with which they have evolved.

• Fraud is the most commonly experienced crime in the UK (the Crime Survey for England and Wales year ending December 2022).

• We are twice as likely to be a victim of scamming than any other crime. The Office for National Statistics’ Crime Survey for the year to March 2023 reported that fraud accounts for 41% of all crimes committed in England and Wales. 

• The UK Finance fraud figures for 2022 show that criminals stole £1.2 billion last year, equivalent to £2,300 every minute.

• Losses from Authorised Push Payment Fraud – a type of scam where victims are manipulated by criminals, often through social engineering, into making payments to scammers – remain stubbornly high at £485.2 million, and unauthorised fraud losses were unchanged from last year at £726.9 million.
  
  Further information can be found:
  Stop Scams UK
  
  Further help and advice around managing data breaches can be found in our Data Breach Best Practice Area.
  
  

  What to do in the event of a cyber attack

  First, follow your cyber response plan. Record the incident in your internal incident log, inform your governing board or trustees, and contact your Data Protection Officer (DPO) as soon as possible if personal data could be involved.

  Incidents or attacks where a security breach may have taken place, or other damage was caused, should also be reported to an external body. The SLT digital lead is responsible for assigning someone to report any suspicious cyber incidents or attacks. This person will need to report to:

  • Report Fraud, which replaced Action Fraud in December 2025, on 0300 123 2040 or through the Report Fraud website. Make sure it is recorded as a crime report so that you receive a crime reference number.
  • the DfE sector cyber team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  You may also need to report to:

  • the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) if the incident or attack causes long-term school closure, the closure of more than one school, or serious financial damage. If you're not sure who to report to, use the government's cyber incident signposting service.
  • the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) within 72 hours of becoming aware of a personal data breach, unless the breach is unlikely to result in a risk to people's rights and freedoms. If the risk is high, you must also tell the people affected without undue delay. Your DPO can help you assess this.  We will do this on behalf of DPE customers.
  • the Risk Protection Arrangement (RPA) emergency assistance helpline on 0800 368 6378 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., if you are an RPA member, or your cyber insurance provider if you have one
  • your local police force if you suspect a safeguarding impact
  • any third-party service providers whose systems are affected, so they can be part of a coordinated response
  • Jisc CSIRT, if you are part of a further education institution.

  You must act in accordance with:

  • Report Fraud's guide to reporting cyber crime and fraud
  • Academy Trust Handbook Part 6, if you are part of an academy trust. Since September 2025, academy trusts must not pay any cyber ransom demands.
  • the ICO's guidance on personal data breaches.

  Preserve the evidence

  Police investigations may find out whether any compromised data has been published or sold, and identify the perpetrator. Preserving evidence is as important as recovering from the crime. Keep a clear record of what happened, when, and what actions you took. The DfE's guidance on record keeping in an incident explains what to capture.

  Reporting suspicious emails and texts

  Forward suspicious emails to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Report scam text messages by forwarding the original message to 7726 (it spells SPAM on the keypad).