Scam calls affecting millions of UK residents

The UK’s Telecoms regulator Ofcom have released results from a survey conducted this summer, stating that nearly 45 million people in the UK have been the target of a scam text message or phone call in the past 3 months.

The survey shows that people aged 16 to 34 are targeted more by text message, while 60% of over 75s have received a suspicious phone call to their landline number.

The report also highlighted that around 80% of those surveyed were not aware of how to report a suspicious text message or call via the 7726 number used to report a suspected text or call – although a similar figure (81%) agreed that reporting messages is helpful in preventing people being scammed in the future.

Ofcom has worked with telecoms operators to tackle scams and nuisance calls for several years, but is concerned about the significant rise in scam calls and texts over the last 18 months. The tactics used by fraudsters are becoming increasingly sophisticated, which include using multiple communication channels and spoofing well-known companies and organisations.