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uk Personal safety & immediate danger

What to do if…
you receive a suspicious call from someone claiming to be emergency services

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

End the call, then contact emergency services or the police yourself using a trusted route. Call 999 if someone is in immediate danger or a crime is happening now; otherwise call 101.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t stay on the line to be polite if the call feels wrong.
  • Don’t confirm your address, date of birth, passwords, PINs, one-time codes, or bank details.
  • Don’t call back using a number the caller gives you or the number shown on caller ID.
  • Don’t transfer money, withdraw cash, buy high-value items, or hand anything to a courier.
  • Don’t download apps, install remote-access software, or follow technical instructions from the caller.
  • Don’t keep the caller on while you check something; end the call first and verify separately.
  • Don’t let the caller’s urgency stop you from using 999 if someone is at immediate risk.

What to do now

  1. End the call. You can say, “I’m going to hang up and call back through an official route.” Then hang up.
  2. If anyone is in immediate danger or a crime is happening now, call 999. Dial the number yourself, not from a link, message, redial, or callback prompt. Tell the call handler you received a suspicious call claiming to be emergency services.
  3. If it is not an emergency, call 101. Say that you had a suspicious call claiming to be emergency services or police, and ask how to verify whether any genuine contact was being made.
  4. If you are using a landline, use another phone if you can. If you cannot, wait at least five minutes before calling back, because criminals may try to keep a landline open after you hang up.
  5. If the caller mentioned money, bank accounts, safe accounts, evidence, couriers, cards, or PINs, contact your bank separately. Use the number on your card, in your banking app, or dial 159 if your bank and phone provider take part.
  6. Write down the details while they are fresh. Note the time and date, what the caller claimed, what they asked you to confirm, any reference number, and the number shown on caller ID.
  7. Report the suspicious call when the immediate risk is under control. In England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, use Report Fraud. In Scotland, contact Police Scotland by calling 101.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide right now whether the call was definitely a scam.
  • You do not need to confront the caller, call them back, or prove anything to them.
  • Blocking numbers, changing passwords, checking accounts, and wider clean-up can wait until you have verified any immediate safety or money risk.

Important reassurance

Scam calls often copy official language, numbers, and urgency to make you act quickly. Hanging up and verifying through 999, 101, your bank, or another trusted route is a reasonable and responsible response.

Scope note

These are first steps only, to reduce immediate risk and prevent fast-moving loss. Later decisions may need help from your bank, police, Report Fraud, or another specialist service.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, financial, technical, medical, therapeutic, or other professional advice. If you feel threatened or someone is at immediate risk, call 999.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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