A new warning has been issued by cyber crime experts urging the public to remain vigilant against phishing scams, as the number of suspicious emails and text messages reported across the UK has soared to over 41 million since 2020.
Launched in April 2020, the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS) has become a key tool in tackling the growing menace of online scams. Thanks to reports from alert members of the public, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has taken down more than 217,000 scams spanning nearly 400,000 website pages.
Streaming platforms, tech firms, phone providers and even official government schemes are among the most commonly impersonated in phishing attempts, according to fresh data from Action Fraud. These scams are designed to mislead recipients into sharing sensitive data or clicking dangerous links.
Superintendent Amanda Wolf of the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau highlighted just how sophisticated fraudsters have become, stating,
“Criminals constantly adapt their techniques and use modern technology to craft emails and calls that look and sound authentic. Every report we receive helps us learn more, identify malicious links, and stop these scams before they do more damage.”
For suspicious emails, the advice is simple: do not click or respond—forward them straight to report@phishing.gov.uk. For scam texts, there’s the free 7726 service, which has already helped remove more than 27,000 scams from the web and block dodgy senders.
Sarah Lyons, Deputy Director at the NCSC, echoed the call for vigilance:
“With over 41 million phishing attempts reported, the public’s awareness is clearly growing. But fraudsters are persistent, so we must remain alert.”
Phishing comes in many forms: dodgy emails, misleading texts, phone scams and now ‘quishing’—using QR codes to trick victims into giving up personal or financial information. These scams often pose as well-known companies, banks, or service providers to build false trust.
What You Can Do:
If a message feels off, stop—don’t click, reply or call any numbers.
Verify the message by contacting the company using trusted details (e.g. bank card, bill, or official website).
Report dodgy emails to: report@phishing.gov.uk
Forward scam texts to: 7726
Call 159 if you suspect a banking scam.
If you’ve fallen victim to a phishing scam and lost money or shared sensitive details, contact your bank immediately and report it via Action Fraud or call 0300 123 2040.
Visit the government’s official cyber safety page for more tips:
stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk
