TL;DR: On July 15, 2026, Ofcom published its statement on combatting mobile messaging scams. Operators and business messaging aggregators must tackle scam texts. Person-to-person rules take effect on January 18, 2027 and application-to-person rules on July 15, 2027. Ofcom estimates around £50 million is lost to messaging scams each year.
What happened
Ofcom’s statement says person-to-person measures include limiting volumes on pay-as-you-go SIMs, blocking numbers used by scammers and blocking scam messages in transit based on reports. For business messages, providers must run Know Your Customer checks, prevent fake alphanumeric sender IDs, carry out ongoing “Know Your Traffic” checks and block scam messages in transit.
Mobile users will have a right to challenge a block. Compared with the 2025 consultation, Ofcom will not require providers to ensure all legitimate messages get through, but they must identify, monitor and address legitimate messages blocked in error.
Ofcom’s estimates: at least 600 million suspicious messages blocked by operators each year, around 100 million getting through (possibly substantially more, based on 40% of UK mobile users reporting at least one suspicious text in the three months before February 2026), at least 100 million messages reported to 7726 in the year to March 2025, and roughly £50 million lost annually.
Why it works
Text scams rely on volume and on fake sender names that appear in the same thread as real messages. Stopping them at the network level removes the burden from each individual.
Until the rules take effect, the checks below still matter.
Background: our explainers on smishing and caller ID spoofing. See also City of London Police Alert: 260+ Calls From One Spoofed Number and Fake Kent Police Calls: Victims Gave Away Crypto Seed Phrases. For wider numbers, see our data page on how scams start (contact methods).
What you can do now
- Forward suspicious texts to 7726, which is how many scam messages are reported.
- Do not click links in unexpected texts, even if the sender name looks familiar.
- Go to the organisation’s app or website directly to check any message.
- Report money lost to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk.
If you have already sent money
Contact your bank immediately, using the number on your card or by dialling 159, and ask about stopping the payment and reimbursement, then report it to Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040. Our guides on UK fraud reporting and APP reimbursement rules, UK bank impersonation scams and how to reverse a wire transfer scam explain what to expect, and what to do after a scam, wherever you live covers the first 24 hours. Scammers often start with details taken from past leaks, so run our free digital footprint check to see what of yours is already exposed.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do Ofcom’s scam text rules start?
Person-to-person rules take effect on January 18, 2027, and application-to-person (business messaging) rules on July 15, 2027.
How much does Ofcom say is lost to messaging scams?
Roughly £50 million a year, based on Ofcom’s estimate.
Can I challenge a blocked message?
Yes. Ofcom says mobile users will have a right to challenge a block.
How do I report a scam text now?
Forward it to 7726 and report any loss to Report Fraud.
Sources
- Ofcom: Statement, Combatting mobile messaging scams (Jul 15, 2026)
- Ofcom: Scam calls, texts and messages
Related Reading
- City of London Police Alert: 260+ Calls From One Spoofed Number
- Fake Kent Police Calls: Victims Gave Away Crypto Seed Phrases
- “Unverified” Texts: What Australia’s SMS Sender ID Register Means
- UK Scam News: October 2026 Roundup and Warnings
- How Scams Start: Contact Methods in US, UK and Australia (2025)
- What to do after a scam, wherever you live