What is authorised push payment fraud (APP fraud)?
APP fraud happens when someone tricks you into sending money from your bank account. A common example is getting a call from someone pretending to be your bank or a government agency like HMRC. They may convince you to transfer your own money to another account. It's not just phone calls though - it can also happen when you buy something online but never receive it, despite paying for it.
What if I'm a victim of APP fraud?
If you fall victim to APP fraud after 7 October 2024, you might be able to get your money back. Your bank or payment provider could reimburse you up to £85,000, but there's usually a £100 excess. So, if you lost £1,000, you'd get £900 back.
If you think you've been scammed, contact your bank right away and they'll help you with the next steps.
Keep in mind that not all payments qualify for reimbursement. You can't claim in the following cases, among others:
- You report the fraud more than 13 months later
- The transaction was illegal
- You paid yourself
- You used cash
- You used a credit card online or in a shop
Other types of fraud, like identity theft or phone theft, don't count as APP fraud. But you should still report them if they happen to you.