Who texted me? Checking an unknown number

A text from a number you don’t know can be a wrong number, a business you forgot you gave your number to, or a scam. You can check the number the same way as a missed call, and a few signs tell you a lot about the message itself. To check the number now, use the box at the bottom of this page or the reverse phone lookup.

Check the number

Put the full number into the lookup. You will see what other people reported about it and which phone company its range was given to. We never show a private person’s name, and no honest free service will. No reports does not mean the number is safe: it may be new, or the sender may have faked it.

If the text came from a name instead of a number, or from a short number of five or six digits, there is no ordinary UK phone number to look up. Judge those by the message.

Signs a text is a scam

The National Cyber Security Centre lists the tricks scam messages use. Ask yourself whether the text:

• Claims authority: says it is from your bank, a doctor, a solicitor or a government department.
• Rushes you: gives you a short time to respond, such as “within 24 hours” or “immediately”.
• Plays on emotion: tries to make you panic, afraid, hopeful or curious.
• Offers something scarce: tickets, money or something else in short supply.
• Ties itself to the news: uses a current event to seem expected.

A link to “confirm” your details or pay a small fee, or a request to reply with a code, should make you stop. Use a number or website you already trust to check, never the contact details in the message.

Forward scam texts to 7726

7726 is free. It passes the text to your mobile provider so it can look at the sender. Ofcom’s instructions:

• iPhone: tap and hold the message, tap More, then the forward arrow, and send it to 7726.
• Android: tap and hold the message, tap Forward, and send it to 7726.

If you already clicked or replied

• If you gave bank details, contact your bank straight away, or dial 159 to reach most UK banks.
• If you gave a password, change it on every account that uses the same password.
• If you opened a link or installed something, run a full scan with your antivirus software if you have it.
• If you lost money, tell your bank and report it to Report Fraud (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or Police Scotland on 101.

Report the number to warn others

Report the number here so the next person who looks it up sees it. Our report form is built around calls, and has no separate option for texts: choose Scam call or Spam or marketing, whichever fits, and say in your own words that it was a text. Sender details can be faked, as they can on calls; see caller ID spoofing.