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Guide

Scammers pretending to be Payday UK: how to spot them and what to do

Criminals are using the Payday UK name to ask people for upfront fees. Here's how to spot them, how to check it's really us, and what to do if you've been targeted.

Last Updated

Who Payday UK really is

Payday UK is a free credit broker, not a lender. You fill in one short form on our website, and we pass it to a panel of FCA-regulated lenders. The lenders decide whether to offer you a loan, so approval is never guaranteed.

Our official details

Scammers copy our name and logo, but they can't copy these details. Check anything that claims to be from us against this table.

DetailThe genuine Payday UK
Websitewww.paydayuk.co.uk only
Customer services0800 302 9409
Emailcustomerservice@paydayuk.co.uk
CompanyPayday Loans Ltd, registered in England and Wales, company number 12430457
FCA statusAppointed representative (FRN 921539) of Flux Funding Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the FCA (FRN 806333)
Registered officeThe Charter Building, Charter Place, Uxbridge, UB8 1JG
ICO registrationZA654345

What Payday UK will never do

The real Payday UKA scammer using our name
Never charges you a fee Asks for an admin fee, deposit, insurance or "release" payment
Doesn't call you about your application Calls, texts or messages you out of the blue
Doesn't take loan applications over the phone "Approves" you during a phone call or chat
Never guarantees approval; lenders make the decision Promises guaranteed approval, even with bad credit
Never asks for payment by voucher, gift card, crypto or bank transfer Asks you to pay by Amazon, Google Play or eBay vouchers, crypto or transfer to a personal account
Your quote uses only a soft search, run by the lenders on our panel Skips checks entirely, or asks for card PINs, passwords or one-time codes
Never asks you to keep things secret from your bank Tells you to lie to your bank about why you're paying

How the Payday UK scam works

Most reports follow the same pattern.

  1. First contact. You get a call, text, email, WhatsApp or social media message saying it's from Payday UK. It often comes soon after you've applied for credit somewhere online, so it feels expected.

  2. The "approval". They tell you your Payday UK loan is approved, sometimes for more than you asked for, with no proper checks. They may use our name, logo and even our real company number.

  3. The fee. Before the money can be released, you must pay a fee. They call it an admin fee, insurance, a deposit, a "bad credit" premium or a first repayment. They often say it's refundable.

  4. The pressure. You're told to pay today or lose the offer. They ask for a bank transfer to a personal account, vouchers, money transfer or cryptocurrency.

  5. More fees. After you pay, a new problem appears: a tax, a verification charge, a legal fee or an "unlock" fee. Each needs another payment.

  6. They disappear. The loan never arrives. The phone number stops working and messages go unanswered.

How scammers pretend to be Payday UK

Scammers use several tricks to look like us. Knowing them makes them easier to spot.

Who gets targeted

Scammers aim at people who need money and have fewer options. The FCA has warned they often target those on lower incomes, with poor credit ratings, or with limited access to mainstream lenders.

People aged 25 to 45 have been the most common victims in FCA data, but anyone can be caught. Risk rises when someone:

  • has been turned down for credit elsewhere

  • needs money urgently, for bills, rent, an emergency or Christmas

  • has recently filled in online loan applications or comparison forms

  • runs a small business that needs cash flow quickly

  • feels embarrassed about money and is less likely to ask for a second opinion

Warning signs

One of these on its own is a reason to stop and check. Two or more strongly suggest a scam.

Warning signs checklist

How to check it's really Payday UK

If you're not sure whether a message, call or website is genuine, check before you do anything.

  1. Go to our website directly. Type www.paydayuk.co.uk into your browser. Don't use links in texts, emails or adverts.

  2. Contact us using our official details. Call 0800 302 9409 or email customerservice@paydayuk.co.uk and ask whether the contact came from us. Never use a phone number or email given in the suspicious message.

  3. Check the FCA Register. Use the FCA Firm Checker to look up Flux Funding Limited (FRN 806333) and confirm the contact details match.

  4. Check the lender too. If a lender contacts you after you've applied through us, look it up on the FCA Firm Checker and contact it using the details shown there.

  5. Search the FCA Warning List for the website, phone number or name you were given.

What to do if someone contacts you claiming to be Payday UK

If something feels off, stop. A genuine offer will still be there after you've checked; a scammer needs you to act now.

  1. Don't pay anything. Not even a small "refundable" fee. We never charge one.

  2. Don't share more details. No bank logins, card numbers, PINs, one-time passcodes, ID documents or payslips.

  3. Don't click links or open attachments in the message.

  4. Tell us. Contact Payday UK on 0800 302 9409 or customerservice@paydayuk.co.uk. Include screenshots, the phone number or email used, and any website address. This helps us get fake sites and profiles taken down and warn others.

  5. Report it, even if you didn't pay:

  6. Block the number or account once you've reported it.

What to do if you've been scammed

Act fast and don't feel ashamed. These scams are run by organised criminals and catch careful people every day. The quicker you act, the better your chance of getting money back.

  1. Call your bank straight away. Use 159 or the number on your card. Tell them you've been scammed and ask them to try to stop or recover the payment. Do this even if it was days ago.

  2. Stop all contact with the scammer and make no further payments, whatever they promise. Then tell us on 0800 302 9409 or customerservice@paydayuk.co.uk so we can help stop others being targeted.

  3. Report it to the police. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, use Report Fraud (the service that replaced Action Fraud in December 2025) online or on 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101. You'll get a crime reference number; keep it.

  4. Report it to the FCA on 0800 111 6768 so it can warn others about the firm.

  5. Gather evidence: screenshots of messages, emails, adverts and websites, phone numbers, the payee's account details, receipts and dates of every payment.

  6. Protect your identity if you shared personal details:

    • change passwords and turn on two-step verification for email and banking

    • consider Cifas Protective Registration, which adds extra checks when someone applies for credit in your name

    • check your credit report regularly with Experian, Equifax and TransUnion for applications you don't recognise

    • tell the issuer if you shared a passport or driving licence

Getting your money back

What you can recover depends on how you paid.

How you paidWhat protection you may have
Bank transfer (Faster Payments or CHAPS)Banks must reimburse most victims of authorised push payment scams up to £85,000, usually within 5 business days. Claim within 13 months of the last payment. A bank can deduct an excess of up to £100, but not for vulnerable customers (PSR).
Debit or credit cardAsk your card provider about a chargeback. If you paid by credit card for something costing over £100 and up to £30,000, Section 75 may also apply.
Gift cards or vouchersContact the retailer that issued them immediately with the card numbers. They can sometimes freeze unspent balances.
Cryptocurrency or money transfer serviceRecovery is very hard. Report it to the exchange or transfer company and to Report Fraud straight away.

The bank-transfer protections cover individuals, micro-enterprises and charities. Banks can refuse if they show you were complicit or "grossly negligent", for example by ignoring specific, tailored warnings. That bar is high and does not apply to vulnerable customers.

If your bank or card provider refuses or you're unhappy with its answer, complain to it first. If that doesn't resolve things, take your case to the free Financial Ombudsman Service.

Beware of recovery scams

After one scam, victims are often targeted again. Your details may be sold or shared between criminals.

A recovery scammer may claim to be a solicitor, a "fund recovery" company, the police, the FCA or your bank. They say they can get your money back, but first you must pay a fee. It is the same trick a second time.

Looking after yourself

Being scammed can leave you stressed, embarrassed and short of money. It is not your fault. Victim support is free:

If you still need credit, speak to a free debt adviser before borrowing. They can help you find safe options such as a credit union.

Useful contacts

WhoWhat forHow to contact
Payday UKCheck if a contact is really from us; report someone using our name0800 302 9409 or customerservice@paydayuk.co.uk
Your bankStop or recover a payment; report a scam159, or the number on your card
Report FraudReport fraud to the police (England, Wales, NI)0300 123 2040 or online
Police ScotlandReport fraud in Scotland101
FCACheck a firm; report a scam firm0800 111 6768
FCA Firm CheckerCheck a lender or broker is authorisedOnline
FCA Warning ListCheck for known scam firmsOnline
Scam textsReport a suspicious textForward free to 7726
Scam emailsReport a suspicious emailreport@phishing.gov.uk
Financial Ombudsman ServiceComplaint if your bank won't refund0800 023 4567 or online
CifasProtect your identity after sharing detailsOnline
Victim SupportEmotional and practical support08 08 16 89 111
MoneyHelperFree, impartial debt and money guidanceOnline

The short version

Sources

  • Payday UK: home page and contact us

  • FCA: Loan fee fraud (updated March 2026)

  • Payment Systems Regulator: new protections for victims of APP scams

  • City of London Police: Report Fraud service

  • Financial Ombudsman Service: Instant Cash Loans Limited

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