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Numbers and charges

Calls from abroad: country codes and missed call scams

Edited by Richard BarkerChecked 13 October 2026

A number that starts with + or 00 followed by a code other than 44 is from outside the UK. If you get a missed call from an international number you do not know, do not call it back: Ofcom warns this can connect you to an expensive number. Text it to 7726 instead.

How to spot a number from abroad

  • International numbers start with + or 00, then a country code of one to three digits.
  • +44 is the UK. +44 7700 900123 is the same as 07700 900123.
  • A UK number you would dial normally starts with a single 0.
  • The number on your screen can be faked, so a familiar country code does not prove where a caller is.

Example numbers on this page come from Ofcom’s ranges kept for TV and radio dramas, which are not given to real people.

Country code lookup

Our short list of common codes, checked against the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) list of assigned country codes.

Type the number as it appears on your phone, starting with + or 00.

This check runs on your device. Nothing you type is sent or stored.

Show all 69 codes in our list
Common international dialling codes
CodeCountry or service
+1United States, Canada and many Caribbean countriesCode 1 is shared. It also covers Jamaica, the Bahamas, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, the Dominican Republic, Bermuda and others.
+7Russia and Kazakhstan
+20Egypt
+27South Africa
+30Greece
+31Netherlands
+32Belgium
+33France
+34Spain
+39Italy
+40Romania
+41Switzerland
+43Austria
+44United KingdomA UK number written in international format. Drop the +44 and add a 0 to get the number you would normally dial.
+45Denmark
+46Sweden
+47Norway
+48Poland
+49Germany
+52Mexico
+55Brazil
+60Malaysia
+61Australia
+62Indonesia
+63Philippines
+64New Zealand
+65Singapore
+66Thailand
+81Japan
+82South Korea
+84Vietnam
+86China
+90Turkey
+91India
+92Pakistan
+93Afghanistan
+94Sri Lanka
+212Morocco
+213Algeria
+216Tunisia
+220Gambia
+225Côte d’Ivoire
+229Benin
+233Ghana
+234Nigeria
+237Cameroon
+254Kenya
+256Uganda
+263Zimbabwe
+351Portugal
+353Ireland
+356Malta
+357Cyprus
+359Bulgaria
+370Lithuania
+371Latvia
+380Ukraine
+420Czech Republic
+870Inmarsat (satellite)Not a country. The ITU lists 870 as a satellite service code.
+880Bangladesh
+881Global Mobile Satellite SystemNot a country. The ITU lists 881 as a shared code for satellite phones.
+882International NetworksNot a country. The ITU lists 882 as a shared code for international networks.
+883International NetworksNot a country. The ITU lists 883 as a shared code for international networks.
+966Saudi Arabia
+971United Arab Emirates
+972Israel
+974Qatar
+977Nepal
+979International Premium Rate ServiceNot a country. The ITU lists 979 as the code for the International Premium Rate Service.

Source: ITU, List of ITU-T Recommendation E.164 assigned country codes (opens in a new tab) (position on 15 December 2016, with later changes published in the ITU Operational Bulletin). Checked 13 October 2026.

One-ring missed call scams

Ofcom says these are sometimes called Wangiri scams.

Ofcom says these scams use automated systems to ring large numbers of phones. Each call lasts under a second and shows as a missed call. If you call back, you can be connected to a premium rate number and charged for as long as you stay on the line. Ofcom says the numbers often start 070, 076, 084, 087, 090, 091 or 118, or are unfamiliar international numbers.

On 2 October 2026 Ofcom also warned about automated calls offering a job, which aim to get you to call back and then pressure you into sharing details or paying money.

  1. Do not call back

    Ofcom says not to return a missed call from a number you do not recognise, especially an unfamiliar international number.

  2. Look the number up first

    Ofcom suggests searching the number online, because other people often report scam numbers.

  3. Report it to 7726

    Copy the number from your recent calls and text it to 7726, free. Some networks ask you to text CALL first.

  4. Called back by mistake?

    Contact your mobile provider quickly if you think you have been charged. If you shared details or paid money, report it to Report Fraud, or to Police Scotland on 101.

Calls from abroad that show a UK number

Ofcom says scammers abroad often fake UK numbers, because people are more likely to answer them. Phone companies must block calls from abroad that falsely show a UK landline number, though Ofcom says some may still get through.

For mobiles, Ofcom’s guidance from 15 July 2026 says phone companies should withhold the caller ID of calls that appear to come from a UK mobile roaming abroad, unless they can check it is genuine. So a withheld number is not always a scam, but take care. Read more in our guide to number spoofing.

Questions

Should I call back a missed call from abroad?

Not if you do not recognise the number. Ofcom warns that some scam calls ring once and hang up so that you call back, which can connect you to a number that charges you for as long as you stay on the line.

Is a +44 number from abroad?

No. +44 is the UK’s country code. +44 7700 900123 is the same number as 07700 900123: drop the +44 and add a 0. Remember that callers can fake the number that shows.

Why do calls from abroad sometimes show a UK number?

Ofcom says scammers abroad fake UK numbers because people are more likely to answer them. Phone companies must block calls from abroad that falsely show a UK landline number, and since 15 July 2026 Ofcom’s guidance says they should withhold the caller ID of calls that appear to come from a UK mobile roaming abroad, unless they can check it.

Does +1 always mean the United States?

No. The ITU lists +1 as a shared code for the United States, Canada and many Caribbean countries, including Jamaica, the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic.

Sources and checks

This page relies on:

Checked on 13 October 2026. Read how reports work. How we check our information. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will put it right.