It’s never been more important to protect yourself from scam calls and texts.
Criminals often impersonate legitimate organisations in an attempt to dupe their victims and leave them out of pocket. So it’s important to be extra cautious if you receive a text message about a parcel you may be expecting, for example, or a call claiming to be from your bank.
Ofcom research found that eight in ten people experienced some form of phone scam last summer, but fewer than two in ten reported them to the relevant authorities.
But there’s an easy, free service you can use to report suspicious texts or calls you might receive on your mobile. It’s called 7726.
What is 7726?
7726 is a number that most mobile customers using UK networks can text to report unwanted SMS messages or phone calls on a mobile. The number ‘7726’ was chosen because it spells ‘SPAM’ on an alphanumeric phone keypad – that’s a handy way of remembering it.
Watch the videos below to learn how to forward scam or spam texts and calls to 7726 on iOS and Android phones. When you’ve done this, it alerts your mobile provider to investigate the number and potentially block it, if it’s found to be a nuisance.
How to forward a scam text to 7726 on iPhone
How to forward a scam text to 7726 on Android
How to report a scam mobile call to 7726 on iPhone
How to report a scam mobile call to 7726 on Android
How to forward a scam text to 7726 on iPhone
How to forward a scam text to 7726 on Android
How to report a scam mobile call to 7726 on iPhone
How to report a scam mobile call to 7726 on Android
What about landline phones?
If you receive a suspicious phone call on your landline:
- Hang up – don't give out any personal or bank details.
- Call the company they claim to be from to check if it's a scam.
- Report the scam call to Action Fraud, and make your friends and family aware too.
If you think you've been scammed
If you think you’ve been the victim of a scam, report it to Action Fraud as soon as possible. You can do this by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting the Action Fraud website. Action Fraud is the reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Reports of fraud and any other financial crime in Scotland should be made to Police Scotland via 101.