Geographic landline numbers (01 and 02) Mixed
01 and 02 numbers are ordinary UK landlines tied to an area — 020 London, 0161 Manchester, 0121 Birmingham, 0131 Edinburgh, 0141 Glasgow, and so on. A local-looking number feels trustworthy, which is why scammers spoof local numbers to raise your chance of answering.
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 01 / 02 landlines are
Geographic numbers (starting 01 or 02) are landlines linked to a town or city dialling code. They are the most familiar, 'local' style of number.
Who calls from 01 / 02 landlines
- Local businesses, tradespeople and offices
- Anyone with a landline in that area
- Scammers spoofing a local code to look trustworthy
How scammers use 01 / 02 landlines
'Neighbour spoofing' — faking a number with your own local dialling code — is a known tactic to make you answer. A local number is not proof the caller is local or legitimate. Verify anything that asks for money or details by calling back on a trusted number.
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
Often legitimate
Mixed
Higher risk
Higher risk
Premium cost
Higher risk
Higher risk
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.