How to report a suspicious call usefully

Make a short record

Note the displayed number, date and approximate time. Record whether a person spoke, a recording played or the call was silent. Summarise the organisation claimed and the action requested. Keep any voicemail or message privately if it may be useful.

Do not call back to gather more evidence or argue with the caller. Your own recollection of an unsolicited call is enough to begin a report; you do not need to conduct an investigation.

Choose the right destination

A suspicious mobile call can be reported through the network’s reporting route. Ofcom directs consumers to 7726 for suspicious calls and messages; follow the instructions from your provider. A report to your provider is different from a police crime report.

For unwanted sales calls, the Telephone Preference Service and ICO routes may be relevant. Silent or abandoned calls and abusive calls have different complaint routes; Ofcom’s consumer guidance explains the distinctions.

If money or account access is involved, contact your bank or affected service first through a trusted channel and consult our fraud-reporting guide.

Add a public community report

Search the number here and use the report form. Describe the experience in your own words. A sentence such as “A recorded message claimed there was a problem with my account and asked me to press a key” is more useful than a bare accusation.

Choose the closest category and distinguish a claimed organisation from an independently verified one. Reports accepted by the automated checks appear immediately. Our team can review, correct or remove them after publication. No account or email address is needed to report a number.

Keep evidence out of the public text

Do not publish bank details, passwords, identity documents, private names or addresses. Do not include live suspect links. The public report should explain the pattern without exposing you or making it easier for someone else to follow the suspicious instructions.

Update the picture fairly

If you later establish that the call was legitimate, or that a number was spoofed, request a correction. Good community information includes corrections and uncertainty, not only warnings.