How this list works (and what we won’t do)
Sites that publish big lists of ‘reported scammer numbers’ rely on anonymous, unverifiable comments — and because scammers spoof caller IDs, those lists routinely accuse innocent people’s numbers. We take a different approach: this guide is built from official Ofcom numbering data (refreshed weekly) and the published guidance of UK fraud authorities. It tells you which ranges carry elevated risk, how to recognise the patterns, and lets you check the official allocation of any specific number free.
High-risk UK number ranges in 2026
| Range | Why scammers use it | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 070 'personal' numbers | 070 numbers look exactly like mobiles but are premium-priced redirection services (3,061 blocks in Ofcom’s data). A classic missed-call (Wangiri) callback trap. | Never ring back an unknown 070 number. |
| 09 premium-rate numbers | 09 numbers can cost several pounds a minute (8,203 blocks). Scams bait you into calling back with missed calls and fake prize texts. | Don't return calls to 09 numbers you don't know. |
| 084 / 087 service numbers | 084/087 numbers carry service charges plus your access charge — fake "helplines" advertise them to monetise your call. | Find the organisation's real number on its own website. |
| Spoofed local landlines | Scammers fake caller ID with your own area code (‘neighbour spoofing’) so you answer. The number shown may belong to an innocent person. | Treat unexpected local calls with the same caution as any other. |
| Spoofed official numbers | Fraudsters display the genuine numbers of HMRC, banks and the police. A real-looking number is never proof — see our genuine HMRC numbers guide. | Hang up and call back on the official published number. |
| Unknown mobiles & +44 7… calls | Fake delivery texts, ‘mum and dad’ WhatsApp scams and bank impersonation typically come from ordinary-looking 07 mobiles, often genuinely UK-registered. | Forward scam texts to 7726 (free) and block the number. |
| International numbers posing as UK | One-ring missed calls from abroad bait expensive callbacks; some look like UK mobiles at a glance (+44 7… vs +44 70… vs foreign codes). | Check the full prefix before calling anything back. |
The patterns behind most phone scams
- The callback trap — a missed call or text baits you into ringing a premium 070/09/084 number. See the one-ring ‘Wangiri’ scam.
- Impersonation — ‘HMRC’, your bank, Amazon or Microsoft call about a ‘problem’ and pressure you to act immediately.
- Spoofing — the caller ID is faked to look local or official. See caller ID spoofing explained.
- Smishing — scam texts (fake deliveries, ‘Hi Mum’) from ordinary mobile numbers. See scam text messages.
Check any number against Ofcom’s data
Paste a number into the checker above to see its type, area and the provider Ofcom allocated the range to. Red flags: the type doesn’t match the story (a ‘bank’ on an 070 number), the range is unallocated, or the caller claims to be local but pressure-sells. For a deeper walkthrough, see is this number a scam? How to check.
If you’ve been called — or caught out
- Forward scam texts to 7726 (free, all UK networks).
- Report scams to Action Fraud and nuisance calls to the ICO — see how to report a scam number.
- Lost money or shared details? Act fast — see scammed on the phone: what to do now.
- Want fewer junk calls altogether? See how to block unwanted calls.
Run mobiles for a business? See our business mobile network comparison or get a quote.