All major UK mobile networks, as an industry scheme. 7726 is the UK's standard number for reporting a suspicious text or call to your own mobile network. It spells SPAM on a phone keypad. We verified this against the operator's own published information on 13 August 2026; the sources are linked on this page.

I got a text from a short code I do not recognise – what should I do?

Do not tap any link in it and do not reply unless you are certain who the sender is. If it is marketing from a company you know, replying STOP to the short code shown in the message opts you out free. If it is unsolicited, forward it to 7726 free of charge and delete it - replying to an unknown sender only confirms your number is live.

7726 – Who Runs It, What It Costs & Is It Safe?

Q: Is 7726 free?

Free. Ofcom states you will not be charged for sending texts to 7726.

Q: Is 7726 a scam number?

No. A short code cannot be spoofed in the way an ordinary phone number can, because you are the one starting the conversation. The risk runs the other way: fraudsters send texts that claim to be from a service like this one and ask you to reply or tap a link. Nothing legitimate will ever text you from 7726 asking for personal details.

Short code: 7726
Type: Text short code
Operated by: All major UK mobile networks, as an industry scheme
Cost: Free
Category: Reporting scams and getting help
Verified: 13 August 2026

What 7726 is for

Forwarding a scam text to 7726 sends it to your mobile provider, which can investigate where it came from and block or ban the sender. It is the reporting route Ofcom, the NCSC and gov.uk all point consumers to, and it is supported by most UK networks.

7726 handles scam calls too. Ofcom's instruction is to open your recent calls, select the number that rang you, and copy or share it in a text to 7726.

What it costs

Free. Ofcom states you will not be charged for sending texts to 7726.

Text 7726 — how it works

iPhone: press and hold the message bubble, tap More, tap the forward arrow, enter 7726 and send.
Android: press and hold the message, tap Forward, enter 7726 and send.
You will usually get a reply from 7726 asking for the sender's number. Send that back in a second text.
Then delete the message. Do not tap any links in it first.

Is 7726 safe, and is it spoofed?

A short code cannot be spoofed in the way an ordinary phone number can, because you are the one starting the conversation. The risk runs the other way: fraudsters send texts that claim to be from a service like this one and ask you to reply or tap a link. Nothing legitimate will ever text you from 7726 asking for personal details.

If a text or call is trying to rush you, threaten you, or get a password, one-time code or payment out of you, it is a scam whatever number it shows. Read our guide to the UK number ranges scammers use and how to spot a smishing text, and forward anything suspicious free to 7726.

Where this came from

We do not guess short codes. Every entry in this directory was checked against the organisation that runs the code, or against gov.uk or the regulator:

Checked against these sources on 13 August 2026. Short codes and their charges do change — if the operator’s page now says something different, believe the operator.

Checking an ordinary number instead

Short codes are not in Ofcom’s numbering data — only full UK numbers are. If it is a normal 01, 02, 03, 07, 08 or 09 number you want to identify, put it into the phone number checker and you will get its type, its area and the provider Ofcom allocated the range to.

Other UK short codes

60599 · Report a suspicious HMRC text message 61016 · British Transport Police non-emergency reporting 85258 · Shout – free 24/7 mental health text support 159 · Stop Scams UK – the safe route back to your bank 999 · Emergency services (and emergencySMS by text)101 · Police non-emergency

All verified UK short codes › · UK area codes › · UK network operators ›

7726 — Report spam texts and scam calls