- 070 numbers are personal numbering, or follow-me numbers, that forward calls to another phone; they are not mobile numbers despite starting with 07.
- Ofcom introduced rules from 1 October 2019 capping the wholesale charge for calls to 070 numbers to bring them in line with calls to mobiles.
- Before that cap, calls to some 070 numbers could cost far more than a standard mobile call, which made the range attractive to fraudsters.
- 070 numbers are easy to mistake for mobile numbers (07) because only the third digit distinguishes them, a feature fraudsters exploit.
- Ofcom has identified the 070 range as carrying a high risk of misuse and fraud and has acted to reduce the financial incentive behind it.
An 070 number is a forwarding personal number, not a mobile. It looks like a mobile but historically cost much more to call, which is why scammers use it. Ofcom capped the charges in 2019.
Last reviewed: June 2026
What an 070 number really is
Despite beginning with the familiar 07, an 070 number is not a mobile phone number. It belongs to a category Ofcom calls personal numbering, sometimes described as follow-me numbers. The idea behind the range was legitimate: a person could publish a single 070 number that would ring through to wherever they happened to be, forwarding the call to their home, office or mobile in turn. The number stays the same even as the underlying destination changes, which can be useful for people who move between locations or want to keep a private number unpublished.
The problem is that the 070 prefix is almost indistinguishable at a glance from a genuine mobile number. UK mobile numbers begin 071 to 079, and 070 sits right alongside them. Only the third digit reveals that 070 is a forwarding number rather than a mobile. Many people simply do not know the distinction exists, and when they see a number starting 07 they assume it is an ordinary mobile that will cost a normal rate to call. That assumption is exactly what made the range dangerous.
How 070 numbers are charged
The cost of calling an 070 number is the heart of the issue. Historically, the rate to dial an 070 number could be set well above the cost of calling a normal mobile. Because the number forwards a call to another destination, there is an additional charge for the forwarding leg, and the way the range was structured allowed call charges to be inflated. A caller who believed they were dialling a mobile could end up paying a much higher per-minute rate, sometimes a substantial sum, without realising it until the bill arrived.
Ofcom acted on this directly. From 1 October 2019, it introduced a cap on the wholesale charge that providers could levy for terminating calls to 070 numbers, bringing the cost broadly into line with calls to ordinary mobile numbers. The aim was to strip out the inflated charges that had made the range profitable to abuse. Even so, the legacy reputation of 070 numbers as expensive lingers, and the fundamental feature that makes them easy to confuse with mobiles remains unchanged.
070 charge structure and scam risk indicators
The table below summarises how the 070 range works and the warning signs that an 070 number may be linked to a scam.
| Characteristic | 070 personal number | Genuine 071-079 mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Type of number | Forwarding / follow-me | Direct mobile |
| Historical call cost | Could be far above mobile rate | Standard mobile rate |
| Charge cap since Oct 2019 | Capped near mobile rate | Not applicable |
| Scam risk indicator | Unexpected callback request to 07_0_ | Lower, but check the third digit |
| How to identify | Third digit is 0 (070x) | Third digit is 1 to 9 |
How fraudsters exploit 070 numbers
The classic abuse of the 070 range relies on disguise and on persuading a victim to make the call. A common tactic involves a misleading message designed to prompt a callback. A target might receive a missed call, a text, or a notice claiming to be from a courier, a prize draw or a recruiter, urging them to ring back a number that starts 07. Believing they are returning a call to an ordinary mobile, the victim dials, and the call is forwarded while charges accrue. In the worst historical cases, the fraudster earned a share of the inflated call revenue while keeping the victim on the line for as long as possible.
This pattern, sometimes described as a missed-call or callback scam, depends on two things: the visual similarity between 070 and genuine mobile prefixes, and the willingness of people to call back unknown numbers. Job scams have also used 070 numbers, with fake recruiters asking applicants to phone a contact number that turns out to be a costly forwarding line. The combination of an emotional hook, urgency and a number that looks ordinary is what makes the technique effective.
How to spot and avoid a suspect 070 number
The single most reliable check is the third digit. A UK number that begins 070 is a personal forwarding number, not a mobile, regardless of how legitimate the message around it appears. If a stranger, an unexpected text or a missed call invites you to ring back a number starting 070, treat that as a warning sign and verify the contact through an independent route before calling. For a courier, that means using the tracking link on the retailer's own website; for a recruiter, contacting the company directly through its published details.
It is also worth being cautious about returning any missed call from a number you do not recognise, especially if there is pressure to call back quickly. Genuine callers who need to reach you will usually leave a message or try again. Because the charge cap introduced in 2019 reduced but did not entirely remove the financial incentive behind 070 abuse, and because the disguise factor remains, the range continues to warrant care. When in doubt, do not dial back: look up the organisation independently and call a number you have confirmed yourself.
Legitimate uses and why confusion persists
It is worth being clear that the 070 range is not inherently fraudulent. Its intended purpose, giving an individual a single forwarding number that follows them between devices and locations, is entirely legitimate, and some professionals genuinely use 070 numbers to keep their personal mobile and home numbers private. The difficulty is that this legitimate use is heavily outweighed in the public mind by the range's history of abuse, and the design feature that enables both, namely a number that looks like a mobile but forwards calls, is the same feature fraudsters rely on. Regulation has reduced the financial reward from abuse, but it cannot change how similar the prefix looks to a genuine mobile.
This is why awareness remains the most effective protection. The charge cap introduced in October 2019 brought call costs broadly into line with ordinary mobile rates, removing much of the profit motive, but it did not delete the range or alter its appearance. A caller who knows to check the third digit, and who treats unsolicited callback requests with suspicion, is well placed to avoid the scenarios where 070 numbers have caused harm. Treating any unexpected instruction to ring an unfamiliar number as something to verify first, rather than act on immediately, is a habit that protects against far more than 070 fraud alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an 070 phone number?
An 070 number is a personal numbering or follow-me number that forwards calls to another phone, such as a landline or mobile. Despite starting 07, it is not a mobile number. It was designed so a person could publish one number that rings through to wherever they are.
Why are 070 numbers expensive to call?
Historically the cost of calling an 070 number could be set well above the rate for a normal mobile, because the number forwards the call to another destination and the structure allowed inflated charges. Ofcom introduced a cap from 1 October 2019 to bring the cost broadly into line with mobile calls, but the range's costly reputation persists.
How are 070 numbers used in scams?
Fraudsters exploit the fact that 070 looks almost identical to a genuine mobile prefix. A typical scam prompts a victim to call back an 070 number through a missed call or a misleading text about a parcel, prize or job. The victim assumes they are calling a mobile, while charges accrue on a costly forwarding line.
How do I know if an 070 number is a scam?
Check the third digit. A number starting 070 is a forwarding personal number, not a mobile. Be wary if an unexpected message, missed call or text pressures you to ring it back quickly. Verify the organisation independently through its official website or published contact details before calling any number you do not recognise.
What has Ofcom done about 070 number fraud?
Ofcom identified the 070 range as carrying a high risk of misuse and introduced a cap on call charges from 1 October 2019, aligning the cost with calls to ordinary mobiles. This removed much of the financial incentive that made the range attractive to fraudsters, although the visual similarity to mobile numbers means caution is still advised.
