Free UK number checker
UK number checker: who texted or called me?
Type the number (or the name) the call or text came from. You get the kind of number, what calling back costs, and what Ofcom's numbering data says about its range.
How it works
Ofcom allocates UK numbers to phone companies in blocks, and publishes a file for each range (01/02, 03, 05, 07, 08, 09) that lists every block, its status and the provider it went to. This site uses the files of 2026-09-04 and looks your number up in them, in your browser. In the mobile ranges alone (071 to 075, 077 to 079 and 07624) Ofcom lists 6,048 blocks, 5,525 of them allocated to 73 providers.
Allocated means a provider holds the range; the name shown is that original holder, not necessarily today's network, because numbers can be moved (ported). Free, protected or quarantined means no provider holds it: a call or text showing such a number almost certainly used a faked caller ID. A number of the wrong length for its range is not a working number either.
Short codes (like 7726) and sender names (like "HMRC") are not in Ofcom's range files. For those, and for any message, the scam text checker looks at what the text asks you to do. For what each kind of number is for, see UK number types.
What calling back costs
| Number starts with | From a landline | From a mobile |
|---|---|---|
| 01, 02 landlines | up to 16p a minute | 3p to 65p a minute |
| 03 UK-wide | up to 16p a minute | 3p to 65p a minute |
| 030 public bodies, charities | up to 10p a minute | 3p to 40p a minute |
| 07 mobiles | 10p to 20p a minute | 3p to 65p a minute |
| 070 personal numbers | 50p a minute | 86p a minute |
| 0800, 0808 freephone | free | free |
| 0843, 0844, 0845 | up to 7p a minute plus your provider's access charge | up to 7p a minute plus your provider's access charge |
| 0870 to 0873 | up to 13p a minute plus your provider's access charge | up to 13p a minute plus your provider's access charge |
| 09 premium rate | up to £3.60 a minute plus your provider's access charge, plus 5p to £6 per call | up to £3.60 a minute plus your provider's access charge, plus 5p to £6 per call |
| 118 directory enquiries | up to £3.65 per 90 seconds plus your provider's access charge | up to £3.65 per 90 seconds plus your provider's access charge |
Sources
- Range holders and status: Ofcom numbering data files S1, S3, S5, S7, S8, S9 (ofcom.org.uk, Download numbering data) as downloaded by Ofcom on 2026-09-04, copied unchanged from the Number::Phone data-files mirror, commit b842859. Ofcom: "We publish data on which UK telephone numbers are available for allocation or are allocated, and aim to update these files every Wednesday." — https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/phone-numbers/numbering-data; mirror: https://github.com/DrHyde/perl-modules-Number-Phone-data-files, read on 2026-09-29
- Re-use of Ofcom data: Ofcom, Copyright and information re-use (Internet Archive copy of 1 May 2026): "the material ... may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium, provided that it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading context. The material must be acknowledged as Ofcom copyright and the title of the document/publication specified." — https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/our-website/copyright, read on 2026-09-29
- Call costs by number type: GOV.UK, Call charges and phone numbers (costs "approximate"; check with your provider): "07 | Mobile numbers | 10p to 20p | 3p to 65p" — https://www.gov.uk/call-charges, read on 2026-09-29
- Number types: Ofcom, The National Telephone Numbering Plan, version with effect from 22 April 2025 (read from the Internet Archive copy of 27 Sep 2026): "071 to 075 inclusive and 077 to 079 inclusive: Mobile Services; 07624: Radiopaging Service and Mobile Services (Isle of Man Communications Commission)" — https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/phones-telecoms-and-internet/information-for-industry/numbering/other/national-numbering-plan.pdf, read on 2026-09-29
- Forward texts to 7726: NCSC, Report a scam text: "Most phone providers are part of a scheme that allows customers to report suspicious text messages for free by forwarding it to 7726. If you forward a text to 7726, your provider can investigate the origin of the text and arrange to block or ban the sender, if it's found to be malicious." — https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/phishing-scams/report-scam-text-message, read on 2026-09-29
- Report Fraud: Action Fraud / City of London Police press release, 4 Dec 2025: "From Thursday 4 December 2025, anyone needing to report cyber crime or fraud will be directed to our new Report Fraud service. Report Fraud has replaced Action Fraud, for use in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. People affected by cyber crime or fraud in Scotland should continue to call Police Scotland using the 101 telephone number. ... reportfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040." — https://www.wired-gov.net/wg/news.nsf/articles/Report+Fraud+service+goes+live+04122025143000; https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/, read on 2026-09-29
- ICO: ICO, Report spam texts and nuisance sales calls: "You can report nuisance calls and spam texts to the ICO here. ... We don't respond to complaints individually." — https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/nuisance-calls-and-messages/spam-texts-and-nuisance-calls/, read on 2026-09-29
TextCheckUK is independent and not affiliated with Ofcom. Ofcom data is reproduced as published: Ofcom copyright.
Frequently asked questions
- Can this tell me who texted me?
- Not by name: Ofcom's published data lists phone companies, not people. The checker shows what Ofcom publishes: the kind of number, the provider the range was first allocated to, and whether the range is allocated at all. That is often enough to spot a fake: a number in a range no provider holds cannot belong to a real phone.
- Is this number a scam?
- A number alone rarely proves it. Strong signs are a range Ofcom lists as free or protected, a premium 09 or 070 number posing as a mobile, and a message that asks for money or details. Paste the message into the scam text checker to see its red flags, and forward scam texts to 7726.
- Why does it show a different network from the one the person uses?
- Ofcom's files show who a block of numbers was originally allocated to. People keep their number when they switch provider, so the current network can be different. Caller ID can also be faked.
- Who called me from an 074 or 075 number?
- 074 and 075 numbers are ordinary UK mobile numbers. Check the full number here to see the original range holder and whether the range is allocated; then judge the call or text by what it asks you to do.
- Is the number I type stored?
- No. The page downloads Ofcom's public file for the first three digits and does the matching on your device. If analytics is on, it records only the kind of number and its first five digits.
- How do I stop texts from loan companies?
- Do not reply to them. Forward each one to 7726 for free and report the sender to the ICO: marketing texts need your consent or an existing customer relationship. Our guide on loan texts explains the rules and what the ICO has done.
Guides
- Is this number a scam? A 6-point checklist
Six checks for an unknown UK number or text: the range, the number type, the cost of calling back, what it asks, the pressure, and how to verify.
- What does an unallocated phone number mean?
Ofcom lists every block of UK numbers as allocated, free, protected or quarantined. Why a number in a block no provider holds means a faked caller ID.
- What is Report Fraud? The service that replaced Action Fraud
Since 4 December 2025 fraud and cyber crime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is reported to Report Fraud, not Action Fraud. Where, how, and Scotland.
Independent information service. Number data from Ofcom shows the original range holder; numbers can be ported or spoofed. Not affiliated with Ofcom, the FCA, the ICO or any police service.