First, call your bank on the number printed on your card or on its official website, and tell them what happened. Speed matters most when money has just moved.
Then report it to the official body in your country. Every link below goes to a government, police or national agency, except where the note says otherwise. UtilForge does not take reports itself.
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month
UtilForge is a registered 2026 Champion of the campaign.
The campaign is led by the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency ( CISA ), America’s cyber defence agency, and the National Cybersecurity Alliance , a non-profit. In Europe, the EU Agency for Cybersecurity runs European Cybersecurity Month . CISA asks everyone to take four core steps, and each one below links to CISA’s own guidance.
Avoid and report phishing scams. How to spot a message that is trying to trick you, and what to do with it. UtilForge’s free Before You Pay goes through a payment request with you before money moves.
Use strong passwords. CISA’s Secure Our World guide for individuals and families.
Use multifactor authentication and a password manager. A second check, such as a code on your phone, on top of your password, for your bank, email and social media.
Update software. Updates fix security holes, so turn on automatic updates.
United States FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) Online fraud, scams and cybercrime. IC3 never contacts people to ask for money.
United States · organisations Report to CISA Cyber incidents, malware and vulnerabilities. (888) 282-0870 , any time.
Canada Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre Fraud and cybercrime, as a victim or a witness, with the RCMP. 1-888-495-8501 , weekdays 10:00–16:45 Eastern.
South and Central America
Brazil Polícia Federal: Comunicação de Crimes Federal crimes. For most fraud, the page directs you to your state’s Polícia Civil and its online police station, the Delegacia Eletrônica.
Mexico · Mexico City Policía Cibernética, SSC CDMX Online fraud and internet crime. 55 5242 5100 ext. 5086, 24 hours.
England, Wales and Northern Ireland Report Fraud Fraud, cybercrime, and suspicious messages, calls and websites. Report Fraud replaced Action Fraud in December 2025. 0300 123 2040 .
Scotland Police Scotland Report fraud on 101 without delay.
Ireland An Garda Síochána Report to your local Garda station, and to the platform where the scam happened.
France 17Cyber Help with any cyber attack or online fraud, from the police, the gendarmerie and Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr. Call 17 or 112 . Formal online complaints go through THÉSÉE .
Germany Onlinewache list (Federal Ministry of Justice) Links to the online police station of each of the 16 states, where you can file a complaint.
Netherlands Politie Online report of internet fraud. 0900-8844 .
Spain INCIBE 017 Free, confidential help with fraud, phishing and identity theft. Call 017 , daily 08:00–23:00. For a formal complaint, the Policía Nacional on 091.
Other EU countries Europol: report cybercrime online A list of each EU country’s national reporting portal.
South Africa South African Police Service Open a fraud case at a police station. Crime Stop tip-offs: 08600 10111 .
South Africa · also Yima, by the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service A not-for-profit that records scams to warn others. It asks you to report to the police as well.
Kenya National Computer and Cybercrimes Coordination Committee (NC4) Cyber incidents, including anonymously. +254 716 148 341 .
Ghana Cyber Security Authority Fraud, phishing, impersonation and online blackmail. Call or text 292 .
Nigeria Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center Cybercrime and online fraud.
India National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal Financial fraud and other cybercrime. Helpline 1930 .
Singapore ScamShield Report a scam and get help. Helpline 1799 , any time. Formal reports go to the Singapore Police Force .
Hong Kong Anti-Deception Coordination Centre Scam alerts and enquiries. Anti-Scam Helpline 18222 . Online reports go through the Police e-Report Centre .
Philippines Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center Online, text, investment and romance scams. Hotline 1326 , any time.
Australia and New Zealand
Australia Scamwatch Scam contacts, scam websites and lost money, run by the National Anti-Scam Centre.
Australia · police report ReportCyber Cybercrime, including identity theft and fraud. 1300 CYBER1 (1300 292 371) .
New Zealand National Cyber Security Centre Online issues for individuals and small businesses. 0800 114 115 , weekdays 07:00–19:00.
CISA · organisations of all sizes Additional steps for organisations Use logging on your systems, back up data, encrypt data, have an incident response plan and use it, and be prepared for system disruptions.
CISA · for IT teams Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog CISA’s list of software flaws that attackers are already using, so your team can fix those first.
CISA · no-cost services Cyber Hygiene Services Free scanning of internet-facing systems and web applications, aimed at critical infrastructure and other organisations. CISA’s page explains who can receive them.
Your country is not listed?
Call your bank, then your local police. Keep the messages, numbers, links and payment details, because they are your evidence. Cancel and Keep Proof writes the message to your card provider and keeps a dated record.
Every link was checked on 1 October 2026. Government services change, so if a link is wrong or your country is missing, write to [email protected] .
UtilForge is a registered 2026 Champion of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a programme of the National Cybersecurity Alliance, and takes part in European Cybersecurity Month independently. It is not affiliated with CISA, ENISA or any government agency.
The full story
This article is one source in a clustered incident — the cluster page carries the summary, timeline and every other outlet covering it.
