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uk Personal safety & immediate danger emergency services call feels wrong • suspicious call says 999 • caller claims to be police • caller claims to be ambulance • caller claims to be fire service • spoofed number looks official • caller id looks legitimate • asking to confirm personal details • asking to confirm address or dob • unexpected urgent verification call • pressured to act right now • authority impersonation phone call • impersonation scam call • worried it might be real • feels unsafe to stay on line • caller asks for one-time code • caller asks for bank details • told not to tell anyone • threatened with immediate action

What to do if…
you get a call claiming to be emergency services asking you to confirm details that feel wrong

Short answer

End the call, then contact the police/emergency services yourself using a trusted method (999 if you need urgent help; otherwise 101) so you’re not relying on the caller’s identity.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t stay on the line “to be polite” if your instincts say something is off.
  • Don’t confirm or “just verify” personal details (address, date of birth, passwords, PINs, one-time codes).
  • Don’t call back using any number they give you, or the callback number shown on your screen.
  • Don’t transfer money, withdraw cash, buy high-value items, or hand anything to a “courier” for an “investigation”.
  • Don’t download anything, install remote-access software, or follow step-by-step instructions on your phone.
  • Don’t let them keep you talking while you “check” something — urgency and pressure are common tactics.

What to do now

  1. End the call. You can say: “I’m going to hang up and call back through an official number.” Then hang up.
  2. If you feel unsafe or think someone needs urgent help, call 999 now. Use your keypad (not redial). Tell the call handler you received a suspicious call claiming to be emergency services.
  3. If it’s not an emergency, verify via the official non-emergency route. Call 101 and ask if any officer/control room is trying to contact you, or if there’s any genuine incident linked to you.
  4. If you’re calling back from a landline: wait at least five minutes (or use a mobile/another line) before calling 101/999, because criminals may try to keep the line open after you hang up.
  5. If the call turned “financial” (bank accounts, “safe accounts”, “evidence”, “couriers”): contact your bank using a trusted number (like the number on your card/app). If you’re unsure, you can dial 159 to be connected safely to many UK banks.
  6. Write down what you can while it’s fresh: time/date, what they claimed, what they asked you to confirm, any “reference number”, and the number shown on caller ID.
  7. Report it through the right channel for where you are:
    • England, Wales, Northern Ireland: report to Action Fraud (online or by phone).
    • Scotland: report to Police Scotland (typically via 101). If you only received a suspicious call and didn’t lose money, you can still report it — it can help protect others.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide right now whether it was “definitely a scam” — the priority is verifying safely.
  • You do not need to confront the caller or prove anything to them.
  • Wider clean-up (changing passwords, checking accounts/credit, blocking numbers) can wait until you’ve verified and secured anything at risk.

Important reassurance

These calls are designed to trigger urgency and compliance. Hanging up and verifying independently is a safe, responsible response — genuine services will understand.

Scope note

These are first steps only, to reduce immediate risk and prevent fast-moving loss. If money, identity details, or threats are involved, you may need follow-on help from your bank and the relevant reporting services.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. If you feel threatened or at immediate risk, call 999.

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