0800 and 0808 (Freephone) numbers Often legitimate
0800 and 0808 are UK Freephone numbers — free to call from both landlines and mobiles. They are widely used by banks, big companies and charities, so a call from one is often genuine. But scammers can display an 0800 number too, so it is never proof of who is really calling.
Just had a call? Check if it was legal →Answer a few questions and get a verdict, the right regulator to report it to, and a ready-to-send complaint.What 0800 numbers are
0800 and 0808 are the UK's Freephone ranges. Calls to them are free of charge from any UK landline or mobile. Because they signal a well-resourced organisation, they are trusted — which is exactly why fraudsters like to spoof them.
Who calls from 0800 numbers
- Banks and building societies
- Large retailers and utilities' customer-service lines
- Charities and helplines
- Government and NHS services
How scammers use 0800 numbers
A genuine-looking 0800 number on your screen tells you nothing about who dialled it. Using number 'spoofing', a scammer can make any number appear — including a bank's real 0800 line. Treat an unexpected 0800 call that asks for money, codes or personal details as suspicious no matter how official the number looks.
Why the number on your screen isn’t proof
The single most important thing to know about any incoming call is this: the number you see can be faked. Through a technique called “spoofing”, a caller can make almost any number appear on your display — a bank’s real 0800 line, a local landline, even your own number. So the caller ID is a hint, never proof of identity.
Ofcom now requires phone networks to block many overseas calls that fake a UK landline number, and rules to block spoofed UK mobile numbers are on the way — but gaps remain. Until then, judge a call on what it asks you to do, not on the number it shows.
What to do when one of these calls comes in
- Never share security details — passwords, PINs, one-time codes or card numbers — on a call you did not start.
- If it claims to be your bank, HMRC or a company you use, hang up and call them back on a number from your card, statement or their official website.
- Don’t be rushed. Pressure to act “right now” is the most reliable scam signal.
- If money is involved, dial 159 to reach your bank safely; call 999 if you feel in danger.
Cut future nuisance calls
- Register free with the Telephone Preference Service — it becomes unlawful for UK companies to make live marketing calls to you after 28 days.
- Turn on your network’s free call protection — BT Call Protect, Sky Talk Shield, EE Scam Guard, and the O2 / Vodafone / Three apps screen known nuisance callers before your phone rings.
Where to report a bad call
- A marketing or recorded sales call → the ICO.
- A silent or abandoned call → Ofcom.
- A scam → Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 (Police Scotland 101).
Not sure which applies? The Cold-Call Checker works it out for you and writes the complaint.
Other kinds of number
Often legitimate
Mixed
Higher risk
Higher risk
Premium cost
Higher risk
Higher risk
Mixed
Sources
This is general guidance about a type of phone number, not a claim about any specific number or caller, and not legal advice. Number rules and costs are current as of the date above and can change.