Phishing scams: how to spot and report them
How to recognise and report emails, texts, websites, adverts or phone calls that you think are trying to scam you.
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Report a scam phone call
How to report a suspicious phone call, and what to do if you think you have been the victim of a phone scam.
How phone scams work
Phone scammers will call you unsolicited, pretending to be from an organisation you trust, such as your bank or the police.
These scam calls may be automated, or from a real person. They may ask you for your personal information like banking details, or tell you you need to transfer money.
Report a suspicious phone call
If you've lost money or have been hacked as a result of responding to a phishing message, you should report it:
- In England, Wales or Northern Ireland, visit https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/ or call 0300 123 2040.
- In Scotland, report to Police Scotland by calling 101.
If you’ve shared personal information with a suspicious caller
- Learn how to protect yourself if you think you’ve shared personal information.
- If you’ve visited a website you think is suspicious, you can report a scam website or link to us.
Protect yourself from scam phone calls
Many phone companies offer services that can protect you from scammers and other nuisance callers. These include:
- caller display
- incoming call blocking
- anonymous call rejection
For more information, contact your phone provider or read Ofcom’s Nuisance calls: phone services that can help (external link)
How to block numbers and messages
Make yourself a harder target
Criminals use information about you that’s available online (including on social media sites) to make their phishing messages more convincing.
You can reduce the likelihood of being phished by thinking about what personal information you (and others) post about you, and by reviewing your privacy settings within your social media accounts.
