Tools & Resources / Practical guide / Suspicious texts and calls
How to report scam texts and mobile calls in the UK
Recognise suspicious contact, report it and know when to escalate.
The Scale of the Threat
Mobile-based scams have reached unprecedented levels. The statistics paint a stark picture of the challenge facing UK businesses and individuals:
50% of UK mobile users reported receiving a suspicious message between November 2024 and February 2025 via text or iMessage.
Fraud increased by 19% last year and now accounts for more than 40% of all reported crime in England and Wales.
UK telecoms operators have blocked more than one billion suspected scam messages since 2023—yet millions still get through.
Resource / Start here
Keep the reporting steps within reach.
Jump to the text and call instructions. Financial loss and compromised accounts need further action.
The idea / At a glance
One reporting number, two routes
Forward suspicious texts, or report a scam caller’s number, to your mobile network through 7726.
Why Mobile Scams Are Increasing
As enterprise email security has improved, attackers have pivoted to less protected channels. Your mobile phone has become a prime target because:
📱 Lower defences — Mobile devices typically lack the sophisticated filtering found in corporate email systems
⚡ Higher urgency — Text messages create an immediate sense of urgency that prompts quick action
🤖 AI-powered sophistication — A report from the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre warned in early 2025 that generative AI is enabling threat actors to scale impersonation attacks, write believable phishing emails, and even produce convincing voice and video deepfakes in minutes.
📈 Deepfake explosion — 179 deepfake incidents were reported in the first quarter of 2025, marking a 19% rise compared to the total number of incidents recorded in 2024.
📞 The 7726 Reporting Service
What Is It?
7726
7726 is the UK’s national service for reporting scam texts and calls.
The number spells “SPAM” on a phone keypad—an easy way to remember it.
Impact: An estimated 100 million suspicious messages were reported to mobile operators through the 7726 service in the year to April 2025.
This free service works with all UK mobile networks and directly helps providers investigate and block malicious numbers.
📲 How to Report: Step-by-Step Instructions
How to forward scam or spam texts to 7726 on iOS
How to forward a scam text to 7726 on Android
How to report a scam mobile call to 7726 on iPhone
How to report a scam mobile call to 7726 on Android
Source: Ofcom
Reporting a Scam Text Message
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open the suspicious text message |
| 2 | Select Forward (press and hold, or tap the share/forward icon) |
| 3 | Enter 7726 as the recipient |
| 4 | Send the message |
| 5 | You’ll receive a reply asking for the sender’s number—reply with it if available |
✅ Tip: Don’t delete the message until you’ve forwarded it
Reporting a Scam Phone Call
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Hang up — Don’t engage with the caller |
| 2 | Open your messaging app |
| 3 | Create a new text message to 7726 |
| 4 | Type: Call followed by the scam caller’s number |
| 5 | Send the message |
Example: Call 07700900123
Your phone or messaging service provider can find out where the text or call came from and block or ban the sender if it’s found to be malicious.
🚨 When to Escalate: Reporting to Authorities
The 7726 service handles technical blocking. If you’ve lost money or disclosed sensitive information, you must escalate to law enforcement.
Report Fraud: The UK’s New National Reporting Service
NEW FOR 2026: On 4 December 2025, the City of London Police launched ‘Report Fraud’, the new service that replaces Action Fraud as the national platform for reporting cyber crime and fraud.
The new service aims to enable a better user experience for victims of fraud and provide the police with the information needed to build the strongest possible collection of crime intelligence.
Quick Reference: Who to Contact
| Situation | Where to Report | Contact Details |
|---|---|---|
| Financial loss or cyber crime (England, Wales, NI) | Report Fraud | 🌐 reportfraud.police.uk ☎️ 0300 123 2040 |
| Financial loss (Scotland) | Police Scotland | ☎️ 101 |
| Suspicious emails | NCSC | 📧 [email protected] |
| Suspicious websites | NCSC | 🌐 ncsc.gov.uk |
| Scam adverts | Advertising Standards Authority | 🌐 asa.org.uk |
🔐 Protect Yourself: Essential Security Measures
Immediate Actions
✅ Register with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS)
Free service to reduce unsolicited marketing calls
🌐 tpsonline.org.uk | ☎️ 0345 070 0707
✅ Enable network-level filtering
Mobile operators’ scam detection tools blocked an average of approximately 50 million messages each month between January and March 2025.
✅ Keep software updated
Ensure your mobile operating system and apps are current
✅ Install security applications
Use reputable mobile security software
The “Stop, Check, Call Back” Method
When you receive an unexpected message or call:
| Action | What to Do | |
|---|---|---|
| 🛑 | STOP | Don’t react immediately—pause before taking any action |
| 🔍 | CHECK | Verify the request through official channels (not contact details in the message) |
| 📞 | CALL BACK | Contact the organisation directly using a number from their official website |
⚠️ Red Flags: How to Spot a Scam
Warning Signs in Messages
| 🚩 Red Flag | Why It’s Suspicious |
|---|---|
| Urgent action required | Creates pressure to act without thinking |
| Request for personal details | Legitimate organisations rarely ask via text |
| Links to unfamiliar websites | May lead to phishing pages or malware |
| Threats or penalties | Fear tactics to prompt immediate action |
| Too good to be true offers | Free prizes, unexpected refunds |
| Poor grammar or spelling | Though AI has reduced this indicator |
Common Scam Types to Watch For
| Scam Type | Description |
|---|---|
| 📦 Delivery scams | Fake parcel notifications requesting fees |
| 🏦 Bank impersonation | Urgent alerts about account security |
| 👨👩👧 “Hi Mum/Dad” scams | Family members claiming to have a new number |
| 💰 Investment fraud | Cryptocurrency or get-rich-quick schemes |
| 🏛️ Government impersonation | HMRC, DVLA, or NHS fake communications |
🤖 The AI Threat: What’s New in 2025/2026
Deepfake Voice Scams
Alert: Vishing surged 442% in 2025 as AI deepfakes fueled $40 billion in global fraud.
Attackers can now clone voices with minimal audio samples, making phone scams incredibly convincing.
Protection measures:
| Action | Why It Helps |
|---|---|
| Establish a family “safe word” | Verifies identity in urgent situations |
| Never act on urgent financial requests | Gives time to verify legitimacy |
| Call back using a known number | Bypasses spoofed caller ID |
AI-Generated Phishing
In the first five months of 2025, a third (32%) of phishing emails contained a high volume of text—indicating use of LLMs.
Messages are now grammatically perfect and highly personalised, making traditional red flags less reliable.
Warning: Scammers need as little as three seconds of audio to create a voice clone with an 85% match to the original speaker.
🏢 For Businesses: Organisational Recommendations
Policy Measures
| Priority | Action |
|---|---|
| HIGH | Implement verification protocols for all financial transactions |
| HIGH | Establish dual-authorisation for payment changes |
| HIGH | Train staff on current scam techniques quarterly |
| MEDIUM | Create an incident reporting procedure |
| MEDIUM | Enable MFA on all corporate accounts |
Staff Training Focus Areas
| Area | Focus |
|---|---|
| Recognition | How to identify suspicious communications |
| Reporting | Clear process for flagging potential scams |
| Verification | Protocols for confirming unusual requests |
| Response | Steps to take if a scam succeeds |
📰 Regulatory Update: UK Government Action
SIM Farm Ban (2025)
The UK has become the first European country to ban SIM farms—devices capable of holding multiple SIM cards that enable criminals to send scam texts to thousands of people at once.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Offence | Possession or supply without legitimate reason |
| Penalty (England & Wales) | Unlimited fines |
| Penalty (Scotland & NI) | £5,000 fine |
| Industry impact | Vodafone blocked more than 73.5 million suspected scam messages during 2024 and a further 38.5 million in the first months of 2025 |
Ofcom’s New Mobile Messaging Rules
Ofcom has announced comprehensive new measures requiring mobile providers to set volume limits for pay-as-you-go SIM cards, block numbers used by scammers, and conduct effective “Know Your Customer” checks on business message senders.
Key requirements for providers:
| Requirement | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Volume limits on PAYG SIMs | Prevent mass messaging |
| Scammer number blocking | Remove known malicious numbers |
| Sender ID verification | Stop fake business names |
| Know Your Customer checks | Verify legitimate senders |
📅 Timeline: Consultation closes 28 January 2026 | Final decisions expected Summer 2026
📋 Quick Action Checklist
Use this checklist when you receive a suspicious communication:
| ☐ | Action |
|---|---|
| ☐ | Do not click any links in the message |
| ☐ | Do not call any numbers provided |
| ☐ | Do not reply or engage with the sender |
| ☐ | Forward scam texts to 7726 |
| ☐ | Report scam calls by texting 7726 |
| ☐ | Report to Report Fraud if you’ve lost money (reportfraud.police.uk) |
| ☐ | Notify your bank immediately if financial details were shared |
| ☐ | Change passwords for any potentially compromised accounts |
| ☐ | Enable MFA on important accounts |
| ☐ | Warn colleagues/family about the scam type |
📚 Additional Resources
| Resource | Purpose | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Report Fraud | UK’s national fraud reporting service | reportfraud.police.uk |
| Stop! Think Fraud | Government fraud awareness | stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk |
| NCSC | Cybersecurity guidance | ncsc.gov.uk |
| Ofcom | Telecoms regulation and scam guidance | ofcom.org.uk |
| Take Five | Fraud prevention campaign | takefive-stopfraud.org.uk |