The National Crime Agency (NCA) is a national law enforcement agency in the United Kingdom.
About National Crime Agency scam texts, emails and phone calls
Scam phone calls purporting to be from the National Crime Agency may try and trick a recipient into believing that their security has been compromised or that they are wanted for a crime. Such scam phone calls are designed to panic a recipient into acting in a way that compromises their security.
A popular example whereby scammers claim to be from the National Crime Agency is the claim that a phone call recipient’s National Security Number has been compromised and the recipient needs to talk to an NCA officer to protect the number or get the number changed.
Typically such scams are initiated by an unsolicited phone call (note that the calling number may appear similar to the recipient’s own phone number) asking them to press one on their keypad to speak to an NCA officer. However this connects the call recipient to a scammer who will attempt to lure recipients into handing over personal and sensitive information about themselves over the phone which can then be used to commit identity theft against the recipient.
Alternatively the scammer may try and lure a phone call recipient into installing malware onto their computer.
Report a National Crime Agency phone, text or email scam
If you believe any of your financial information may have been compromised as a result of a scam, you should report it to your financial institution (bank, card issuer) immediately using their security hotline number.
The National Crime Agency currently recommends you report any scams to the HMRC. Details about scam phone calls or scam emails can be forwarded to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk. Scam text messages can be forwarded to 60599.
If you're in the UK, you can ALSO report scams...
- Scam emails can be forwarded to The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) at report@phishing.gov.uk
- Scam texts can be forwarded to your phone carrier on 7726
- All types of cybercrime and fraud can be reported to the police via ActionFraud by calling 0300 123 2040 (or 101 in Scotland) or by using ActionFraud's online reporting tool here.
If you're in the USA, you can ALSO report scams...
- Scam texts can be forwarded to your phone carrier on 7726
- All types of cybercrime and fraud can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by using their complaint assistant here or by calling 1-877-382-4357 (9am-8pm ET)
From a different country? Click here.
You can also forward SMS or email scams to us at scam@thatsfake.com
Avoiding National Crime Agency phone, text and email scams
If you need to verify if you can speaking to an NCA officer – either by phone call, text, email, social media or at your doorstep, you can contact the NCA control centre phone number on 0370 496 7622. (Open 24/7)
Also follow the following advice to avoid these scams.
- The NCA will never call you unexpectedly and claim your National Insurance Number or bank account has been compromised.
- The NCA will never ask a recipient to provide your bank details, a password of any kind, or request you transfer money from one account to another.
- The NCA will never request a recipient pay a fine over the phone or online.
- The NCA will never request access to a recipient’s computer over the phone or online.
- The NCA will never request a recipient open email attachments.
You can read more about what the NCA will never ask you to do on their website here.