Type any UK phone number below and find out instantly who's been calling – or if it's a number worth worrying about.
Works with UK landlines, mobiles, 0800 freephone, 0345, 09 premium rate and more.
Here's an example of the information you'll see when you look up a UK number on our site.
Called four times this week pretending to be from my bank. They said my account had been compromised and wanted me to transfer money. Classic fraud script. Hung up immediately after the third time and reported to Action Fraud.
Got a call claiming to be Barclays security team. They had some of my personal details which was unsettling. Don't give them anything and put the phone down straight away.
Same bank scam as everyone else. I played along for a bit to waste their time then told them I knew it was a scam. They got very rude.
When you're trying to figure out who called you, the area code is often your first clue. UK phone numbers follow a fairly logical system once you know the basics – and knowing it can help you decide whether to call back before you've even searched the number.
Numbers starting with 020 are always London. Numbers starting with 0161 are Manchester, 0121 Birmingham. But scammers frequently use number spoofing, so a London area code doesn't guarantee the caller is actually in London – or even in the UK.
| Prefix | Region / Type | Worth searching? |
|---|---|---|
| 01xxx | Geographic landlines (UK-wide) | Yes – common for PPI/insurance spam |
| 020 | London landlines | Yes – frequently spoofed by scammers |
| 07xxx | UK mobile numbers | Always – mobile scam calls are rising |
| 0800 | Freephone – caller pays nothing | Sometimes – can be legit or automated |
| 0345 / 0370 | Non-geographic, rate like local | Yes – often HMRC, banks, insurers |
| 09xxx | Premium rate – you pay more | Always – very high risk of scam |
| 070xx | Personal numbering – premium rate | Always – notorious for call-back scams |
Numbers starting 09 or 070 can cost you significantly per minute. If a missed call from one of these appears on your phone, search the number here before dialling back. Many of these are orchestrated "missed call" scams designed to get you to ring an expensive line.
Some organisations still use these but they're also popular with cold callers. Your phone contract may not include them in your free minutes, meaning you pay extra. Worth checking before you ring back.
Scammers can make almost any number appear on your screen. A call appearing to come from your bank's official number doesn't mean it really is your bank. Hang up and call the number on the back of your card if in doubt.
The TPS (tpsonline.org.uk) lets you opt out of unsolicited sales and marketing calls. It doesn't stop scammers but it does reduce legitimate cold calling, which can make genuine scam calls easier to spot.
If you believe you've been targeted by a scam call, report it to Action Fraud (actionfraud.police.uk) or call 0300 123 2040. The more reports they receive, the more likely that numbers and operations get shut down.
The reasons are pretty varied. It's not just scam victims – lots of people are just curious, cautious, or trying to reconnect with someone.
Banking and payment fraud is the most common reason people look up a number. A call claiming to be from your bank, HMRC or a debt collection agency can be terrifying – checking the number first takes 30 seconds and could save thousands.
Some scammers leave a missed call from an expensive premium rate number, knowing curiosity will prompt you to ring back. A quick search before calling back costs nothing; getting caught costs a lot.
Sometimes a number is legitimate but unknown – a GP surgery, a delivery driver, a new employer calling to offer a job. Our database helps you confirm these too, so you can call back with confidence.
Repeated calls from unknown numbers can feel unsettling, particularly for older relatives or people with anxiety. Being able to look up who keeps calling and confirm it's nothing sinister provides real peace of mind.
