Filing a police report for a scam

Where to file a police report

You can walk into any police station and make a report about the scam. Larger stations, or ones with a commercial crime desk, tend to handle these cases more frequently.

You can also go directly to the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID), the unit that investigates fraud specifically, if your local station refers you there. Some reports can also be started through official online channels, depending on the case.

Whichever route you use, the report eventually reaches the same investigative system. Choose whichever is fastest for you right now.

What to bring

Bring your identification, the transfer receipts or bank statements, and any messages, emails, or screenshots that show how the scam unfolded. A short written timeline helps you remember details clearly under stress.

If you already contacted your bank about a recall, bring that reference number too, since it helps the officer see what has already been done. Mention a card payment in your report as well, alongside any chargeback you have started.

Ask for a copy of the report or the report number before you leave. You will need it later for your bank, an insurer, or a lawyer.

What happens after you report

Once filed, your report is recorded as an official statement and usually referred to CCID if it involves financial fraud. Investigators can then trace accounts, request bank records, and link your case to others.

This process takes time, and you may not hear updates immediately. Keep your report number and follow up if a reasonable period passes without word.

Why the report matters beyond the police

A police report supports steps outside the police station too. Banks usually ask for one before completing a recall, and it strengthens any later legal action if the money or the scammer can be traced.

Reporting also links your case to others against the same account, which helps investigators build a pattern even when a single loss looks small.

If you have not completed the other urgent actions yet, check the first steps after a scam as well.

What to do now

If the transfer happened in the last few hours, call 997 right away. The National Scam Response Centre works urgently with banks on very recent transfers. Then make a full police report once that call is done.

If it has already been longer, go to the nearest police station or CCID with your documents. Filing early keeps every other option, including a bank dispute or legal step, on the table.

You do not have to explain everything perfectly on your own. Tell us what happened and we will help you prepare what to bring.