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The short answer.

Spam and scam calls in the United Kingdom: what to do

Register your landline and mobile with the free Telephone Preference Service, and if a call about your money worries you, hang up and dial 159 to reach your bank. Report scams to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040.

The TPS stops legal sales calls after 28 days; scammers ignore it. Scammers abroad also fake UK mobile numbers, which is why Ofcom now makes phone companies stop those numbers from showing.

Public figures.

How common are scam calls in the United Kingdom?

Free, five minutes.

How do I stop sales calls in the United Kingdom?

The Telephone Preference Service (TPS) is the official list of numbers that must not get sales calls. It’s free.

  1. Register at tpsonline.org.uk, call 0345 070 0707, or text TPS to 85095 from your mobile.Telephone Preference Service, Register
  2. It takes effect after 28 days.Telephone Preference Service, Register
  3. Still getting sales calls after that? Report them to the ICO, which fines companies that break the rules.Ofcom, Unwanted calls, texts and emails

Where do I report a scam call?

What do phone companies offer for free?

Which scams are common right now?

Your bank, or the police, about a “safe account”

A caller says your account is at risk and you must move your money somewhere safe. No bank or police officer will ever ask that. Hang up and dial 159.

Stop Scams UK, 159UK Finance, Annual Fraud Report 2026 (June 15, 2026)

A UK mobile number calling from abroad

The number looks local, so you answer. Ofcom says scammers abroad fake +447 numbers for exactly that reason.

Ofcom, Cracking down on scam calls from abroad

A cloned voice of someone you know

UK Finance warns that criminal groups now use cloned voices and deepfakes to pose as people you trust.

UK Finance, Annual Fraud Report 2026 (June 15, 2026)

What should I say, and not say?

Say

  • I’ll call my bank myself on 159.
  • I don’t discuss my accounts on calls I didn’t make.
  • Then hang up, and wait a moment before you make another call.

Don’t

  • Don’t move money to a “safe account”.
  • Don’t read out a one-time passcode or your card PIN.
  • Don’t call back a number the caller gives you.
  • Don’t trust a familiar voice asking for money. Call them back.
Honest limits.

Where does Vicem fit?

Vicem is an AI that answers your phone when you can’t, on its own number or on yours.

  • It answers the calls you miss and turns away scam calls.
  • It always tells callers it’s an AI.
  • Works when your phone is off.
  • Asks you before anything important.
  • Anyone can check what it did.
  • Robocalls, scam calls and silent calls Vicem screens out at the start never count against your minutes, nor do calls that fail on our side.
  • It never gives a caller your details.
  • You get a short summary of every call.

What it can’t do

  • It answers only the calls you forward to it or that reach your Vicem number. Calls you pick up are yours.
  • It doesn’t block or report numbers. Keep the register and your phone company’s filter on.
  • Some phone companies charge for forwarded calls. Check yours before you turn it on.
  • You can get a local Vicem number in the United Kingdom after a document check.
Start free trial

Free for 14 days.

What do people ask?

Does the TPS stop scam calls?

No. It stops legal sales calls after 28 days. Scammers don’t follow the rules, so keep 159 and Report Fraud handy.

Is Action Fraud still running?

It was replaced by Report Fraud on December 4, 2025: reportfraud.police.uk, or 0300 123 2040, the same number as before.

What is 159?

A short number that connects you to your bank. It can’t be faked, so it’s the safe way to check a call that worried you.

Where next?