Questions & answers
Answers to the most common questions: how to find out who called, whether to call back, how to block a number, where to report.
How can I find out who called me from an unknown number?
There is no public reverse directory in the UK. Search the number here to see its line type, area or network, and what other people have reported about it.
Read more →Should I call back a missed call from an unknown number?
Not straight away. Check the number first, and never return a single-ring missed call from abroad or from a premium 09 or 070 line — that is how the scam pays.
Read more →What is a 070 number and is it expensive to call back?
070 is a personal “follow me” number that redirects to any phone, not a mobile. Ofcom capped the price in 2019, but calls often fall outside bundles.
Read more →What do calls to 03, 080, 084, 087 and 09 numbers cost?
03 numbers cost the same as 01 and 02 and use your inclusive minutes. 080 numbers are free. 084, 087, 09 and 118 add a service charge on top.
Read more →Is my bank really calling me, and how do I check?
Hang up and ring back yourself on the number printed on your card, or dial 159. What the caller asks you to do matters more than how they sound.
Read more →What is 159 and when should I dial it?
159 is a short code that puts you straight through to your bank’s fraud team. Dial it whenever a call, text or message about your money might be a scam.
Read more →How do I report a scam call or a scam text in the UK?
Forward scam texts free to 7726, and report a scam call by texting 7726 with “Call” and the number. Report fraud to Action Fraud or Police Scotland.
Read more →What if I gave a scammer my passcode or card details?
Act now: freeze the card in your banking app, ring the bank on the number on your card or dial 159, change your passwords, then report it to Action Fraud.
Read more →What if I let a caller control my computer remotely?
Disconnect the device from the internet, then contact your bank from a different phone. Remove the remote-access app, change passwords and scan the machine.
Read more →Can I get my money back after a bank transfer scam?
Often yes. Since October 2024 most UK bank transfer scam claims must be reimbursed, usually within five working days. Tell your bank as soon as you realise.
Read more →What does “No Caller ID” mean and can it be traced?
It means the caller withheld their number, usually by dialling 141 first. You cannot trace it yourself, but your provider and the police can.
Read more →Why do I get calls from international numbers?
Most are automated scam or wangiri calls dialled cheaply from overseas, sometimes showing a faked UK number. Do not ring back — check the number first.
Read more →How do I block a number on an iPhone and on Android?
iPhone: Phone, Recents, the “i” beside the number, then Block this Caller. Android: hold the number in your call history and choose Block or Report spam.
Read more →How do I stop nuisance calls with EE, O2, Vodafone or Three?
All four networks and the main landline providers offer scam-call filtering and call barring, usually free. Set it up in the provider’s app or account.
Read more →Does registering with the TPS really stop marketing calls?
It stops most legitimate UK firms, which must not make live marketing calls to a registered number. It does nothing about scams or callers based abroad.
Read more →Why do I get silent calls with nobody on the line?
Usually a call centre’s automatic dialler with no agent free, or a bot checking that your number is live. Ofcom limits abandoned calls and fines firms.
Read more →Can answering a call from an unknown number cost me money?
No. Receiving a call in the UK is free, and saying “yes” cannot authorise a charge. The cost comes from ringing back an expensive number.
Read more →Can someone fake my number, and what if people say I called?
Yes, caller ID can be faked without touching your phone or account. You cannot stop it directly, but it usually stops once the number is dropped.
Read more →Which city is 020, 0161, 0121, 0113, 0141 or 0131?
020 is London, 0121 Birmingham, 0113 Leeds, 0131 Edinburgh, 0141 Glasgow and 0161 Manchester. The code shows where the line was issued, not where the caller is.
Read more →Is a number starting 07 always a mobile?
Almost always, but not quite: 071 to 075 and 077 to 079 are mobiles, 076 is mostly pagers, and 070 is a personal redirect number that only looks like a mobile.
Read more →How do I check that an investment or loan firm is genuine?
Look the firm up on the FCA’s Financial Services Register and the FCA Warning List, then ring it back only on the contact details shown on the Register itself.
Read more →How do I add a report about a number, and what happens next?
Search for the number, then use the form on its page to describe the call. Reports appear after a moderation check and can be corrected or removed on request.
Read more →How do I get my number removed from the site?
Ask through the contact form, giving the number and the reason. Reports that are mistaken, abusive or aimed at a private individual are removed.
Read more →Where do scammers get my phone number from?
From data breaches, marketing lists you were opted into, numbers published online, and plain guesswork — diallers work through whole blocks of numbers in order.
Read more →What is a “courier fraud” call from the police or bank?
A fake officer or fraud investigator asks you to withdraw cash, buy gold or hand your card to a courier. It is always a scam — hang up and dial 159.
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