The displayed number is not proof of who called. End suspicious contact and reach the organisation through independently trusted contact details.
Check a numberIn this guide
The number on your screen is information the caller’s phone system sends, and it can be set to almost anything. That is caller ID spoofing. It is how a scammer rings you showing your bank’s real switchboard, a local-looking landline, or a mobile number that belongs to somebody who has no idea their number is being used.
What network protections can and cannot do
Ofcom introduced guidance on blocking international calls that falsely display UK landline numbers from 29 January 2025, with exceptions for legitimate uses. In July 2026 it published strengthened guidance addressing international calls displaying UK mobile numbers.
Publication of guidance is not proof every network has implemented every measure or that a particular call is genuine. Check Ofcom’s current guidance for scope and implementation dates. Continue to verify unexpected callers independently.
What an unusual number tells you
Some ranges are reserved for fictional use, including Ofcom’s drama numbers. An invalid format or a range absent from a dated dataset also needs checking. Do not treat a missing allocation record alone as proof of spoofing.
Even a correctly formatted, allocated number can be spoofed. Use the area-code reference for context, then check the caller through a route you trust.
If your own number is being spoofed
If people return calls you did not make, contact your phone provider and keep a private record. This may indicate spoofing, but it does not establish the cause by itself. Ask for a free correction if information about your number is inaccurate. Businesses can explain their genuine contact practices on their own websites.
What to do with a spoofed call
- Hang up, and ring the organisation back on a number you found yourself.
- For a call claiming to be your bank, use 159.
- Report the number you saw, saying what the caller claimed to be. Even if the number was borrowed, it warns the next person that it is being used.
Common questions
Can someone fake their phone number in the UK?
Yes. A displayed number can be falsified. Ofcom has introduced measures to reduce spoofed calls and published further guidance in July 2026, but the number on screen is still not proof of who called.
How can I tell if a number is fake?
A reserved fictional number or invalid format is a reason for caution. Missing records in an allocation snapshot are not proof by themselves. Even a valid number can be spoofed: verify the caller independently.
Someone is using my number to make calls. What can I do?
Contact your phone provider, keep a private log of unexpected return calls and request a free correction if information on GotMyNumber is inaccurate. A report against a number does not prove its holder made the call.
Have a number to check?
Read the available evidence, then choose your next step.
Sources behind this guide
First published 25 September 2026. Adapted from the existing GotMyNumber guide, with editorial changes for V2 on 28 October 2026.