How to Report a Tipster Scam to Action Fraud

What Counts as a Tipster Scam

A tipster scam typically involves someone who takes a subscription fee or upfront payment in exchange for betting tips, then either vanishes, delivers worthless picks, or fabricates a results record. Common examples include fake "100% strike-rate" services promoted via Instagram, Telegram channels that collect payment then go silent, and WhatsApp groups charging weekly fees with no verifiable history.

Under the Fraud Act 2006, dishonestly making a false representation to gain financially is a criminal offence carrying up to ten years in prison. If a tipster knowingly lied about their results or qualifications to get your money, that is fraud — not simply a poor service. Understanding this distinction matters because it determines where and how you report.

Reporting in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: Action Fraud

Action Fraud is the UK's national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime, operated by the City of London Police on behalf of the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB). You can report online at actionfraud.police.uk at any time, or phone 0300 123 2040 Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm. The online tool is available 24 hours a day and lets you upload evidence such as screenshots, payment receipts and messages.

When you submit a report, you receive a police crime reference number. This is important: it confirms your report has been logged and you will need it if you pursue a chargeback with your bank or escalate the matter later. Action Fraud does not investigate cases directly; it passes information to the NFIB, which analyses reports and refers suitable cases to regional police forces for investigation.

Be as detailed as possible. Include the tipster's name or alias, the platform they used, dates of payments, amounts paid, how you paid, and any promises they made in writing. The more evidence you supply, the more useful your report is to investigators.

Reporting in Scotland: Police Scotland

Scotland has its own legal system and Action Fraud does not cover it. If you were scammed while resident in Scotland, report the fraud to Police Scotland by calling 101, the non-emergency police number. You can also visit your local police station in person. For urgent situations — for example, if you believe the fraudster has your bank or personal details and you are at immediate risk — call 999.

Police Scotland will log the report and may refer it to their specialist Economic Crime Unit depending on the scale of the fraud. As in England and Wales, you should also separately contact your bank without delay.

Contact Your Bank Immediately

Reporting to the police does not recover your money on its own. Contact your bank or card provider as soon as you realise you have been scammed. If you paid by debit or credit card, ask about a chargeback. Under the Visa and Mastercard chargeback schemes, you may be able to dispute the transaction if the goods or service were not delivered as described. Credit card payments over £100 may also be covered under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, which makes the card provider jointly liable alongside the merchant.

If you transferred money by bank transfer, tell your bank immediately and ask them to raise a fraud claim under the Contingent Reimbursement Model (CRM) Code, a voluntary industry code that commits participating banks to reimbursing victims of authorised push payment (APP) fraud in certain circumstances. From October 2024, the Payment Systems Regulator introduced mandatory reimbursement rules for most APP fraud cases sent over Faster Payments, strengthening your rights further. Act fast — the quicker the bank is alerted, the better the chance of freezing the funds.

Your bank's fraud team operates separately from the police. You should contact both. One does not replace the other.

Reporting the Accounts on Social Media and Messaging Apps

Most tipster scams operate on Instagram, Telegram, Twitter/X or WhatsApp. Reporting the account to the platform serves two purposes: it can get the account removed quickly, stopping others from being targeted, and it creates a record that may assist law enforcement if they later seek data from the platform.

On Instagram, go to the profile, tap the three dots and select 'Report', then choose 'Scam or fraud'. On Telegram, open the chat, tap the profile name, then 'Report'. On WhatsApp, open the chat, tap the contact name, scroll down and tap 'Report'. Twitter/X has a similar in-app reporting flow. You can also report suspected illegal content to the platform directly via their Trust and Safety pages.

Under the Online Safety Act 2023, large platforms designated by Ofcom are required to take action against fraud content and illegal material. If you believe a platform is failing to act on a clear scam, you can raise a complaint with Ofcom, though Ofcom does not handle individual complaints — it uses them to inform regulatory action.

Quick Checklist: What to Do After Being Scammed

Use this checklist to make sure you have covered the key steps: • Gather evidence immediately — screenshots of messages, adverts, payment confirmations and any claimed results records. • Report to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040 (England, Wales, Northern Ireland). In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101. • Note your crime reference number from Action Fraud. • Contact your bank or card provider the same day and request a chargeback or APP fraud claim. • Report the fraudster's account on the relevant platform (Instagram, Telegram, WhatsApp, Twitter/X). • Warn others by leaving a factual review on independent sites such as TipsterCheck — stick to facts you can evidence. • If you shared personal or financial details, consider placing a notice of correction on your credit file with Experian, Equifax or TransUnion, and monitor your accounts closely.

What Happens After You Report

Action Fraud will send your report to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau. The NFIB reviews reports in bulk and identifies patterns — one report may not trigger an investigation on its own, but multiple reports about the same person often do. This is why it is worth reporting even if you feel the amount lost is small. You will receive updates via email if there is a development linked to your crime reference number, but many cases do not result in a prosecution, particularly when the suspect is based overseas.

If Police Scotland or a regional force does take on the case, a detective may contact you for a formal statement. Preserve all your evidence and do not delete messages or emails, even ones that seem minor. Courts can and do use digital evidence in fraud prosecutions under the Fraud Act 2006.

If you are unhappy with how Action Fraud has handled your report, you can contact the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) or, in Scotland, the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC).

Responsible Gambling and Getting Support

Tipster scams often target people who are already gambling regularly and looking for an edge. If you find that losses — from scams or from gambling itself — are causing financial or emotional stress, free, confidential help is available.

BeGambleAware (begambleaware.org) operates a free National Gambling Helpline at 0808 8020 133, available 24 hours a day. GAMSTOP (gamstop.co.uk) is a free self-exclusion service that lets you restrict your access to all UK-licensed gambling sites in one step. You must be 18 or over to gamble legally in the UK. If you or someone you know needs support, please reach out.