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What is Take Five to Stop Fraud?

Take Five to Stop Fraud is a UK campaign that tells people to Stop, Challenge and Protect when someone asks for money or information. Stop means taking a moment to think before parting with money or information. Challenge means asking whether the request could be fake. 12

By Secordit. Last checked: 10 November 2026.

Go to the steps · All glossary terms

How it works

  1. Stop: take a moment to think before parting with money or information. 1
  2. Challenge: ask whether the request could be fake. It is all right to refuse or ignore a request. The campaign says only criminals will try to rush or panic you. 1
  3. Protect: contact your bank if you think you have been scammed, and tell the police at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040. 12

How it can look

The campaign site warns that criminals may impersonate Take Five. It says Take Five does not endorse products or services, and will never text or call to ask you to share information or transfer money. 1

Warning signs

  • Someone asks you to part with money or personal information, and tries to rush or panic you. 1
  • A text or call claims to be from Take Five and asks you to share information or transfer money. 1
  • A product or service claims to be endorsed by Take Five. 1

What to do now

  1. Stop and take a moment to think before you part with money or information. It is all right to refuse or ignore a request. 1
  2. If you think you have been scammed, contact your bank using the number on your card, or 159 if your bank supports it. 14
  3. Tell the police at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101. 12367

UK reporting and support

How to protect yourself

  • Take a moment to think before parting with money or information, and refuse or ignore a request that does not feel right. 1
  • Take Five will never text or call to ask you to share information or transfer money, and it does not endorse products or services. 1
  • These three words are a habit to pause and check. Still use Report Fraud, 159, or your bank's published number when you need those routes. 125

Frequently asked questions

What does Stop, Challenge, Protect actually mean?

Stop means taking a moment to think before parting with money or information. Challenge means asking whether the request could be fake, and it is all right to refuse or ignore it. Protect means contacting your bank if you think you have been scammed, and telling the police at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040. 1

Will Take Five ever text or call me?

The campaign says it will never text or call to ask you to share information or transfer money. It also warns that criminals may impersonate Take Five, and that it does not endorse products or services. 1

Does following Take Five replace a report to the police or my bank?

No. If you think you have been scammed, contact your bank and tell the police at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101. 12367

Matching kit

After a Scam: What to Do First · £7 · Digital download.

A printable UK checklist for the money, account and reporting steps. It is general information, not a recovery service.

General information, not legal, financial or personalised security advice. Secordit is not a police or bank reporting service.

News Pulse

Account security, explained by email.

Read about News Pulse

Sources

  1. Take Five to Stop Fraud, Take Five to Stop Fraud. Accessed 10 November 2026 (Europe/London).
  2. Report Fraud, Report Fraud. Accessed 10 November 2026 (Europe/London).
  3. Report Fraud, Guide to reporting cyber crime and fraud. Accessed 10 November 2026 (Europe/London).
  4. Ofcom, What to do about a scam call, text or message. Accessed 10 November 2026 (Europe/London).
  5. Mobile UK, Protect against fraud. Accessed 10 November 2026 (Europe/London).
  6. Police Scotland, How to report a crime - Police Scotland. Accessed 10 November 2026 (Europe/London).
  7. Report Fraud, Reporting cyber crime and fraud or phishing attempts - Report Fraud. Accessed 10 November 2026 (Europe/London).