UK email users are being reminded that they can forward suspicious messages to a dedicated address free of charge. The reminder from Action Fraud highlights that forwarding scam emails to report@phishing.gov.uk allows specialists to check them and put blocks in place to prevent them from being sent to others.
As of June 2026, more than 252,000 scams have been removed as a result of suspicious emails reported by the public. The security experts at Action Fraud said in a post on X: “You can report suspicious emails by forwarding them to: report@phishing.gov.uk. As of June 2026, over 252,000 scams have been removed as a result of suspicious emails reported by the public.”
Text message scams also targeted
Phone users have also been urged to send any suspicious text messages to the number 7726. Once received, a team can check and stop further attacks. So far, more than 40,000 scams have been removed because the public forwarded messages to the service.
Action Fraud added: “Received a text message you think is a scam? Report it. Forward the message to 7726 (it's free of charge). Over 40,700 scams have been removed as a result of suspicious text messages reported by the public.”
How to spot a scam
There are several ways to spot scams, including watching out for a sense of urgency or checking for spelling mistakes in messages. Clicking on embedded links is also a bad idea, and it is never wise to hand over personal information asked for via a message.
Cyber crooks are getting more savvy with the way they send messages, and some now look incredibly real. Any messages asking you to act due to impending account closures, fines needing to be paid, or issues with online services should raise a red flag. If you are worried, it is best to log into your actual account or phone the firm to find out what is really going on.
Latest advice from the government says, “Do not give out private information (such as bank details or passwords), reply to text messages, download attachments or click on any links in emails if you’re not sure they’re genuine. Report misleading websites, emails, phone numbers, phone calls or text messages you think may be suspicious.”
