How to report a scam phone number

Step 2: Report to police

National Fraud Reporting Centre

The UK's national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime. Reports are passed to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) for investigation. You will receive a crime reference number.

For text scams

Forward to 7726

Forward any suspicious text message to 7726 (which spells SPAM on a phone keypad). This is free on all UK networks and reports the message to your provider, who can block the sender. Over 100 million suspicious texts have been reported this way in the year to April 2025.

Works on all UK mobile networks. You may receive a follow-up asking for the sender's number.

For fake HMRC contacts

HMRC phishing team

If you receive a suspicious email, text or voicemail claiming to be from HMRC, report it directly to HMRC's phishing team.

For nuisance calls from companies

Ofcom

Ofcom regulates communications providers and investigates patterns of nuisance calling, particularly silent calls, abandoned calls from automated systems, and companies calling people registered with TPS. Individual reports contribute to enforcement action. Ofcom's new Organised Crime Communications (OCC) unit, launching April 2026, will have expanded powers to disconnect networks used for mass scam calling.

Report at ofcom.org.uk/complaints

For unwanted marketing calls

Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)

The ICO enforces rules on unsolicited marketing calls. If you are registered with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) and still receive marketing calls, report the company to the ICO, who can issue significant fines.

Report at ico.org.uk