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What to do if…
you receive a suspicious call or message claiming to be from an embassy asking for personal details

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Stop the conversation and do not share any details. Verify independently through GOV.UK, the official website of the embassy concerned, or the FCDO/nearest British embassy route if you are a British national abroad.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t give your passport number, date of birth, address, copies or photos of documents, passwords, or one-time codes.
  • Don’t click links, open attachments, or scan QR codes sent in the message.
  • Don’t call back the number that contacted you or continue the same thread to “prove it’s real”.
  • Don’t let urgency push you into acting, even if they say your passport will be cancelled, you will be detained, or you must pay now.
  • Don’t pay the caller or sender, especially by bank transfer, crypto, gift cards, or money transfer.
  • Don’t “confirm details” just because they already know some information about you.

What to do now

  1. End contact safely. Hang up or stop replying. If it is a robocall, do not press any buttons.
  2. Keep a quick record. Screenshot the message if you can do so safely. Note the phone number, time, date, platform, and exactly what they asked for. Then stop engaging.
  3. Verify through a route you find yourself. For a British embassy, high commission or consulate, use GOV.UK to find the official contact route. For another country’s embassy, use that embassy’s official website or main switchboard, not links or numbers sent in the message.
  4. Ask a simple verification question. Say: “I received a call or message claiming to be from you asking for passport or personal details. Can you confirm whether you contacted me?” Do not give extra details unless the official route confirms what is needed.
  5. If it claims to be a British embassy or UK consular service and you are abroad, use the UK consular route. Call the nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate, or the FCDO in the UK on +44 (0)20 7008 5000, and select the option for consular services for British nationals. Use this for urgent consular contact, not to continue with the caller who contacted you.
  6. If you shared passwords, codes, bank details, or card details, secure those first. Change affected passwords, starting with your email account. Turn on two-step verification where available. Contact your bank or card provider using the number in your banking app or on your card, and ask for the fraud team.
  7. If you sent a passport scan or photo, treat it as sensitive information. Write down exactly what you sent and when. Check official GOV.UK passport guidance if the passport may be lost, stolen, or misused, and be alert for follow-up identity-fraud attempts.
  8. Report the contact through UK reporting routes. Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk. Forward suspicious text messages to 7726 if your mobile network supports it. If you lost money, were hacked, or shared details and think it is fraud, report it to Report Fraud if you are in England, Wales or Northern Ireland; if you are in Scotland, report to Police Scotland on 101.

What can wait

  • You don’t need to decide today whether to follow up with the person who contacted you.
  • You don’t need to send documents “just to be safe”.
  • You don’t need to post about it publicly right now.
  • You don’t need to solve every identity-protection step at once; first stop contact, verify through official routes, secure accounts, and report if needed.

Important reassurance

Scammers can spoof real embassy names, phone numbers, and logos, so a convincing call or message does not mean you did anything wrong. Pausing and verifying through a route you find yourself is the right move, even if the message sounds urgent.

Scope note

These are first steps only to reduce harm and buy time. If you are abroad and genuinely have an urgent consular issue, later decisions may need help from the verified embassy, high commission, consulate, FCDO, your bank, your mobile provider, or another specialist service.

Important note

This guide is general information, not legal, financial, travel-security, identity-protection, or professional advice. If you feel at immediate risk or threatened, prioritise your safety and contact local emergency services.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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