You cannot tell that a phone call is genuine simply because a familiar number appears on the screen or the caller knows your name. If you are unsure, end the call and check through contact details you find independently. You do not have to stay on the line to be polite.
This guide explains warning signs, ways to check a caller and current UK reporting routes. It also explains what to expect from a booked Let’s Just Talk OK call. Official guidance and service details were checked on 3 November 2026.
Warning signs worth stopping for
Ofcom’s guide to scam calls highlights unexpected requests, pressure to act immediately and demands for secrecy. Be cautious if a caller wants money, passwords, a PIN or other sensitive information, especially when you were not expecting the call.
A caller may describe a problem they claim only they can fix. They might say an account is at risk or present a prize or refund you did not expect. A convincing explanation is still something you can check independently; it is not a reason to skip checking.
You do not need to establish beyond doubt that someone is a criminal before hanging up. “I will contact the organisation myself” is enough. Do not let a caller turn the conversation into a test of whether you trust them.
A displayed number is not proof
Scammers can change the number shown on caller ID. This is called number spoofing. A number that looks local or appears to belong to a familiar organisation does not authenticate the person speaking.
Equally, knowing a name, address or other detail about you does not prove the caller is genuine. Ofcom’s protection guidance explains that criminals may obtain information from public sources or data breaches.
Treat the displayed number as a clue about who might be calling, not a guarantee. This applies to any organisation, including a service you have used before.
How to check a call safely
- End the conversation. Do not share details or follow instructions while uncertain.
- Find contact details independently. Use the organisation’s official website, a statement you already have, or the number on the back of your bank card. Do not rely on a number supplied during the suspicious call.
- Make a fresh call. Explain that you received an unexpected call and want to check it.
There is an extra precaution for landlines: a scammer may keep the connection open after you hang up. Age UK’s phone-scam guidance advises using a different phone, checking the line with someone you know, or waiting at least 10 to 15 minutes before making another call.
Consider keeping trusted contact details somewhere accessible before you need them. If you help a parent or friend prepare that list, involve them in deciding where it belongs. It should make independent checking easier, without making them feel they need permission to use their phone.
If you have shared information or sent money
Contact your bank or card provider immediately using its official app, website or the number on your card. Ofcom says you can also call 159 if your bank supports it. The bank may be able to stop a payment or recover funds, but recovery is not guaranteed.
If you clicked a link or installed something on your phone, Ofcom advises contacting your mobile provider and avoiding banking apps on that device until you know it is safe. Ask for appropriate technical help rather than continuing to follow the original caller’s instructions.
Keep useful details for the organisation handling the report: when the call happened, what was requested and any payment information already available to you. Do not call the suspected scammer again to gather evidence.
Where to report it
- Fraud in England, Wales or Northern Ireland: use Report Fraud. Its website distinguishes suspicious contact from a fraud or cybercrime report.
- Scotland: contact Police Scotland on 101 for non-emergency fraud reporting.
- A suspicious mobile call: Report Fraud’s instructions say to text 7726 with the word Call followed by the caller’s number.
- A landline or withheld-number call: ask your telephone provider how to report it.
If there is immediate danger, call 999. Reporting a suspicious number to a mobile network is not a replacement for contacting your bank if money or account security is involved.
What happens with our booked calls?
With Let’s Just Talk OK, you choose a befriender and appointment online and pay by card through the booking process. At that time, your befriender rings the telephone number supplied with the booking from our office number, which appears on your phone. Calls are phone-only; no video app is needed.
Those details help you know what to expect, but caller ID still cannot prove identity. If anything seems wrong, end the call and check the booking through our website. A conversation appointment is not a reason to disclose banking passwords or a PIN.
Read how our calls work and the frequently asked questions before an appointment. Our befriending service provides ordinary conversation for adults aged 18 and over. It is not fraud investigation, financial advice, therapy or crisis support.
If the experience has left you upset
You can ask someone you trust to sit with you while you contact the relevant organisations. For people aged 55 and over, Age UK’s Silver Line Helpline offers free conversation and support on 0800 4 70 80 90, 24 hours a day, every day. It does not replace reporting or urgent bank contact.
If you need urgent help
If someone’s life is at risk, or you cannot keep yourself or someone else safe, call 999 or go to A&E. In England, for urgent mental-health help, call NHS 111 and select the mental-health option, or ask for an urgent GP appointment. See the NHS urgent-help guidance.
Samaritans offers free listening support, day or night, on 116 123. See Samaritans contact information and our urgent-help page. Do not wait for a booked befriending call in an emergency.
Sources checked: 3 November 2026. This is general information, not a medical assessment.
