Got a text message from the Met Police? Don't ignore it – you may be able to help fight fraud

Below we explain what you need to know, including how to spot if the text is genuine and what you can do to help the police's investigation (whether you got the text or not).

If you think you've been a victim of a scam or want to know more on how to avoid one, see below or read our 30+ ways to stop scams guide. 

What to do if you get one of the Met Police's text messages

The Met told us that those being contacted have been identified as potential victims of so-called 'number spoofing' fraud. Specifically, victims may have been caught out by an online tool, known as iSpoof, which enabled criminals to appear as if they were calling from banks, tax offices and other official bodies while attempting to defraud people.

The Met says more than 200,000 potential victims in the UK alone have been directly targeted through iSpoof, with 70,000 of those linked to an identified suspect (it's those 70,000 that will be getting the texts). You will likely have been called over the phone from a fraudster pretending to be from your bank.

How these scams work

iSpoof allowed its criminal users, who paid for the service in the cryptocurrency Bitcoin, to disguise their phone number so it appeared as if they were calling from a trusted source. This process is known as 'spoofing'.

With 'spoofing', fraudsters attempt to trick people into handing over money or providing sensitive information, such as one-time passcodes sent to banking apps or phones.

In many cases, the scammers already have access to your account from information obtained on the dark web. They might mention some transactions that you have legitimately made, to gain your trust.

However, they'll usually then mention a transaction you haven't made, in order to make you think you have already been scammed – and they'll ask you to help them move your money to a 'safe' account. This is how you know you're dealing with a scammer. You real bank will NEVER ask you to move money to a 'safe' account or to share a one-time passcode or security code.

The Met says fraudulent calls made via iSpoof have cost victims a total of at least £48 million, based on Action Fraud reports. But because fraud is vastly underreported, the full amount is believed to be much higher.

Not got a text but had suspicious calls from someone claiming to be your bank? Report it

iSpoof has now been shut down by Scotland Yard's Cyber Crime Unit, in a joint effort with international law enforcement bodies – but it's important to note fraudsters still have the ability to mimic official phone numbers via other similar sites and tools, so you should remain suspicious whenever you get an unexpected call from someone claiming to be your bank.

If you haven't been contacted by the Met Police but think you may have spoken to a fraudster, or lost money to a scammer pretending to be from your bank, the Met is asking you to report it to Action Fraud – as the systems there will be able to identify other likely victims of the particular set of crimes it is investigating. Even if your case isn't relevant to this operation, the information could be useful for other investigations.

You can report scams to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, or anonymously on the Action Fraud website. If you're in Scotland, you can report scams to Police Scotland directly by calling 101.

What to do if you think you've been scammed

If you think you are being scammed, hang up the phone immediately and independently search for your bank's contact details to inform them (for example, call the phone number on the back of your card or on your bank statement). Alternatively, call the 159 hotline.

If you have already been scammed and have lost money, contact your bank (again, by independently searching for its contact details). It is helpful to report the scam via Action Fraud to help the police investigate and prevent future scams from taking place.

If you want to get some more advice, visit the Citizens Advice website, or call its consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.

For more info on avoiding scams, see our 30+ ways to stop scams guide.