Scam guides & caller advice
Practical advice for the calls and messages you weren’t expecting. Understand the signs, check safely and know what to do next.
How to report fraud to the right UK authorities
Protect your money and accounts first, then use an official reporting route. A community report is a separate step.
Read the guide →What the Telephone Preference Service can do
The TPS can reduce unsolicited live marketing calls. Understand its scope before expecting it to stop every nuisance call.
Read the guide →How to report a suspicious call usefully
Preserve the right details, choose the appropriate reporting route and protect your private information.
Read the guide →UK telephone area codes and number formats
Understand geographic prefixes, +44 formatting and why a number’s allocation is different from a caller’s identity.
Read the guide →Number spoofing: why caller ID is not proof
The number on your screen can be misleading. Understand what that means for callbacks, reports and reputation labels.
Read the guide →Unexpected job offers on WhatsApp and by phone
Check the employer, the role and the requested action before sharing information or paying to start work.
Read the guide →Fake delivery messages: a small fee can be a warning
Expecting a parcel makes a delivery message feel plausible. Check the shipment without using the message’s link.
Read the guide →Banking scam calls and the “safe account” story
An alarming warning about your money can be the start of the scam. Step outside the caller’s instructions to check.
Read the guide →HMRC impersonation calls: check before you act
Tax language and urgent demands can make a call feel official. Verify the issue through a route you choose.
Read the guide →How to reduce spam calls on Android
Android call controls vary by phone and dialler. Start with the app you actually use and check the trade-offs.
Read the guide →How to block spam calls on iPhone
Block a specific caller, review the right settings for your iOS version and avoid losing important calls.
Read the guide →How to recognise a telephone scam
Look at what a caller wants you to do, not just how convincing the conversation sounds.
Read the guide →How to check an unknown number safely
A missed call does not need an immediate reply. Work through these checks before deciding whether to call back.
Read the guide →