Why this matters

Fraudsters use phone calls, text messages and the internet to try to trick people every day. These scams can feel convincing but following a few simple steps can help protect your money and personal information.

Staying safe on the phone

If an unknown number calls, let it ring out to voicemail or your answerphone. Add trusted friends and family to your contacts so their names appear clearly and you can screen calls.

Criminals can disguise their identity to look like a genuine business, the police or even a family member. Genuine organisations will never ask for bank details, PINs or passwords during a call. Be especially cautious of requests to buy gift cards.

If you’re unsure, hang up. To check, call your bank using the number on your card or statement. Ideally use a different phone line, as scammers can keep a line open for a short time after you hang up.

Some scams pretend a loved one is in distress, sometimes using AI to imitate voices. If something feels wrong, contact them another way or use a pre‑agreed family password. Above all, don’t let anyone rush you. A genuine caller will give you time to think.

Phone scams and remote access

A genuine organisation will never ask you to download software or apps during a phone call. If you are asked to do this, hang up immediately.

Reporting scam texts and calls

You can report suspicious text messages for free by forwarding them to 7726.
This helps mobile phone networks investigate scam messages and block them in future.

To report a scam text:

1. Select the message on your phone

2. Choose the option to forward it

3. Send it to 7726

Forwarding messages to 7726 is free and does not share your personal details.

You can also report scam phone calls to your mobile provider.

Staying safe online

Pause before clicking links or opening attachments, even if a message looks like it’s from a trusted organisation. Banks and official bodies won’t ask you to share personal details by email.

Check the full sender address. If it looks odd or unfamiliar, delete the message. Keep your devices up to date, as software updates often include important security fixes.

When shopping online, look for web addresses that begin with https and a padlock symbol near the address bar. If the padlock is missing, don’t enter personal details. Avoid banking or payments on public Wi‑Fi.

On social media, think carefully about what you share. Details like dates of birth or pet names can help scammers guess passwords. Review your privacy settings regularly.

These tips are covered in our digital skills sessions. Your local sight loss advisor can also run through them at a hub session or by phone.

Reporting and support

If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud:

• Contact your bank immediately. If you’re unsure whether a call is genuine, you can contact your bank safely by dialling 159, which connects you directly to your bank’s anti-fraud team.
• Report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or at actionfraud.police.uk.

Trusted resources

• Take Five to Stop Fraud – national campaign led by UK Finance with simple, impartial advice on spotting scams and protecting your money.
• Friends Against Scams – free awareness session from the National Trading Standards Scams Team; learn how scams work and how to support others.
• National Cyber Security Centre: phishing – spot and report – official guidance on recognising phishing emails and texts and how to report them.
• The Little Book of Big Scams (PDF) – Metropolitan Police booklet explaining common frauds and how to avoid them.
• Which? free scam alerts – sign up for email alerts about the latest scams.

Last reviewed: November 2025.