Scam and money safety
Know the three scams that target newcomers before they reach you.
The decision here
Would you recognise a fake Home Office call or a fake landlord in the first ten seconds?
What to know before you act
- Official bodies such as the Home Office and HMRC do not ring to demand immediate payment or threaten arrest. Hang up and call back on a number from the official website.
- Before paying anything towards a property, ask what the payment is: a holding deposit, a tenancy deposit, or rent in advance. Each has a different rule, and the type decides whether the request is normal.
- Treat a job offer that asks you to pay up front for training, a visa or a uniform as a serious warning sign, and check the employer independently before paying.
Do this
- Open step
Learn the scams that target newcomers
Fifteen minutes that protects your money and your status.
If you get stuck
You already paid someone
Usually because: Advance-fee scam, often via bank transfer or crypto.
Do this instead: Tell your bank immediately, then report to Action Fraud. Speed matters more than embarrassment.
Official sources
Where this comes from
- Source
- Action Fraud / GOV.UK
- Applies to
- UK-wide (Police Scotland handles reports in Scotland)
- Last checked
- 12 September 2026
- Next review
- 12 October 2026
- Rule status
- Current guidance
- Risk
- Higher risk if you get this wrong
Why this applies to you: You are arranging housing, work and money with people you cannot yet verify.
Agumba explains and orders official guidance. It is not legal or immigration advice. Always confirm the detail on the official page before acting.
Something to help you finish this
UK Renting Safety Checklist
Tell a legitimate letting process apart from a high-risk payment request, starting with what payment you are being asked to make.
What you end up with: A decision on whether a payment request is normal, and what to check before paying.