[CLSTR]
< Back to situations

Monitor this situation.

[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [CRIME]

3 clusters · 7 sources · 6 days · First seen · Last updated

UK consumer fraud schemes

Overview

In late July 2026, Stop Scams UK promoted the three‑digit number 159 for the public to verify suspicious bank calls, while a handset‑fraud scheme targeting mobile‑service customers was reported.

In early August 2026, Devon & Cornwall Police issued a warning about a new phone scam that pretends to be a bank fraud department. The callers claim money is being stolen, advise victims to hang up, and then direct them to the 159 service or the bank’s official number. The scam keeps the line open to create a false dial tone and attempts to obtain passwords or transfer funds to a “safe account”. Police advise using a different phone, waiting 30‑60 seconds after hanging up, and confirming the line is clear before dialing. A separate advisory cautioned against requests to hand cash to rideshare or delivery drivers or to send funds via cryptocurrency, urging people to report fraud to Action Fraud.

Entities

Devon & Cornwall Police · British banks · UK banks · Tesco mobile · Caroline

Timeline

  1. 9 days ago

    [CRIME] 3 sources
    UK police warn of sophisticated bank phone scam

    UK police warn that scammers impersonating banks use the 159 service trick, urging victims to use a different phone, wait before redialing, and never hand cash to couriers.

  2. 9 days ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    UK mobile customers hit by handset fraud scheme

    UK mobile users of Sky, Tesco Mobile, EE, Vodafone and O2 are being scammed by callers posing as providers, receiving costly phones that are later billed to them; nearly 30,000 handsets were stolen last year.

  3. 14 days ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    UK urges public to dial 159 to verify bank calls and avoid scams

    Britons are urged to hang up suspicious bank calls and dial 159, a Stop Scams UK service that connects directly to their bank’s fraud team, to prevent account theft.

Sources

edinburghlive.co.uk · gloucestercitynews.net · kingsbridge-today.co.uk · mirror.co.uk · po.hu · thebusinesstimes.co.uk · totnes-today.co.uk

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history