UK scam phone numbers: how to check, block & report

A recorded or live caller claims to be from HMRC, says you owe tax and threatens arrest, a lawsuit or a 'final warning' unless you pay immediately — often by bank transfer, gift cards or cryptocurrency. HMRC never threatens arrest by phone, never demands payment in vouchers, and never uses a 'press 1 to speak to an officer' menu.

A caller pretending to be your bank's fraud team says your account is compromised and you must 'move your money to a safe account' or read out a one-time passcode. Your real bank will never ask you to move money or share a passcode. Hang up and call 159 — the secure phone line to your bank.

Someone claiming to be from Microsoft, Apple, BT or your antivirus provider says your computer is infected and asks you to install remote-access software (AnyDesk, TeamViewer) or to buy gift cards. No legitimate tech company cold-calls about a virus or asks for remote access out of the blue.

A call or text says a delivery (Royal Mail, DPD, Evri) failed and you must pay a small fee or 'confirm your address' via a link. The link harvests card details. Genuine couriers handle redelivery in their own apps, not by asking for card numbers over the phone.

A caller offers a government energy rebate, smart-meter grant or 'green' grant and asks for bank details to pay it in. Real government rebates are applied to your bill automatically — there is no outbound call and no need to hand over your account number.

Unsolicited calls about an accident you had, a PPI refund, or cheap insurance leads. Cold-calling about pensions has been illegal in the UK since 2019, and similar rules apply to claims. Register with the TPS and treat any unprompted financial offer with suspicion.

Your phone rings once from an unfamiliar number, hoping you'll call back — sometimes to a premium-rate or international line that costs you money. Don't return missed calls from numbers you don't recognise; look them up first.

Automated calls pushing 'your warranty has expired', loft insulation, debt write-off or prize draws. Under UK rules you must have opted in to receive automated marketing calls, so most of these are unlawful. Report persistent robocalls to the ICO.

Calls promising to write off your debts for a fee, which can push you into unregulated and harmful 'advice'. The free, regulated alternatives are StepChange and Citizens Advice — neither of which cold-calls.

A caller offers a 'guaranteed' high-return investment or crypto opportunity and pressures you to act fast. Check the FCA register before investing, and remember that any guarantee of high returns with no risk is a hallmark of fraud.