Warning signs to look out for
- A fee to “release”, “verify” or “fast-track” your payment.
- A short deadline, threat or message telling you to act immediately.
- A link asking for bank passwords, a PIN or a one-time security code.
- An unexpected attachment or website address that imitates an official service.
A familiar name or logo is not proof. Sender details can be imitated. Open the organisation’s website independently rather than following a message link.
What a suspicious message might look like
“Your £100 energy payment is waiting. Confirm your card and pay a £1.99 verification fee today to avoid losing your entitlement.”
The fee, urgency and request for card details are reasons to stop. Do not reply or follow a link.
This is an invented example to explain warning signs. It is not evidence that a particular message or website has been reported.
How to report a suspicious text
Forward suspicious SMS messages to 7726, free of charge. Follow any instructions from your mobile provider. Ofcom explains how the reporting service works.
For a suspicious email, use the government’s phishing reporting guidance. Do not include passwords or payment-card information when reporting.
If you have already shared financial details
Contact your bank immediately using its app, a number on your bank card or its official website. Tell it what information you shared and whether money has moved. Do not use a telephone number supplied by the suspicious sender.
If you disclosed a password, change it through the genuine service and change it on other accounts where you reused it. Ask your bank or the police reporting service what to preserve as evidence.
What this website will never ask for
Our checker does not ask for a bank account, card number, National Insurance number, address or password. It does not accept applications or charge a claim fee. Your answers are used only on the current page.
For payment instructions, use the government or your council. Read our privacy policy for what this guide does with information.