Phone number deactivated scam: how the "your number will be deactivated" call works

A call saying your phone number will be deactivated because it's linked to scams is itself a scam. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warned about it on 26 October 2026: the caller claims to be from the FTC, threatens to cut off your number, then passes you to a fake police officer. Hang up and don't give any details.

How does the phone number deactivated scam work?

The FTC's alert sets out how the call goes. It describes it as the latest twist on FTC impersonators.

1. The claim. Someone claiming to be an FTC official calls to say "a phone was registered under your name and number and is being used to commit scams in another country".
2. The proof. The caller reads out a badge ID. The FTC says it's a fake badge.
3. The threat. If you don't cooperate, they threaten to deactivate your phone number.
4. The handover. They transfer you to a fake police officer to file a report. If you hesitate, they may tell you what to search online to find a police number to call back. The FTC says that when you call, people involved in the scam pick up.
5. The personal details. They ask for your ID and other personal information for your "report", and tell you to keep everything secret.
6. The money. Later, they claim you're under arrest for the scams linked to your number and must go to another country, unless you send money for a security deposit.

The FTC's verdict: "None of this is true".

What will a real FTC employee never do?

The FTC lists four things, in its own words. A real FTC employee will never ever:

1. Reach out to ask you to send money, or connect you to someone who says to send money.
2. Threaten to disconnect your phone.
3. Tell you to keep your conversations secret. The FTC says "That's always a scam."
4. Text you a photo of their employee ID to "verify" their identity.

If a call does any of these, it isn't the FTC.

Does this scam happen in the UK?

The FTC's warning is about callers pretending to be from the FTC, a US agency. In the UK, Report Fraud warns about phone fraud, which it calls vishing: a fraudster calls pretending to be from an organisation you trust, such as your bank or the police, and tries to get you to hand over personal details or make a payment.

Report Fraud's advice: "genuine service providers, banks and the police will NEVER call asking you to transfer money, share personal financial details or hand over remote control of your computer."

It also warns about the number on your screen. Fraudsters can change the number they call from so it appears on your caller ID as one you know and trust, which Report Fraud calls spoofing.

What should I do if I get the call?

Hang up. Then check, using details you found yourself.

1. End the call. Don't give your ID, date of birth, address or bank details.
2. Don't trust the caller ID. Report Fraud says the caller ID display on your phone is not proof of ID.
3. Don't use a number they gave you, or one they told you to search for. The FTC says that when you call, people involved in the scam pick up.
4. Check with the organisation yourself. Report Fraud says to contact it directly using contact details you know are correct, such as those on a bill or its official website. If you're worried about your number, that means your phone provider.
5. In the UK, call 159 to reach your bank or 101 for the police, as Report Fraud suggests for calling back on a number you know is genuine.

The NCSC says phone scammers call unsolicited, pretending to be from an organisation you trust, such as your bank or the police.

How do I report a phone number deactivated scam call?

In the US: the FTC says to tell it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

In the UK:

1. Report the call by texting 7726 with the word "Call" followed by the scam caller's number, as Report Fraud advises.
2. If you've lost money or been hacked, the NCSC says to report it in England, Wales or Northern Ireland at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040, and in Scotland to Police Scotland on 101.

The old actionfraud.police.uk address now takes you to reportfraud.police.uk.

I gave them my details. What now?

Act on what you shared. The NCSC's steps if you've been tricked into sharing personal information with a scammer:

1. Banking details: contact your bank and let them know.
2. A password: change the passwords on any of your accounts which use the same password. The NCSC adds that you could use a passkey instead, where available.
3. A work phone or laptop: contact your IT department.
4. Money: tell your bank and report it as a crime to Report Fraud, or to Police Scotland in Scotland.

If you followed instructions to install software, the NCSC says to run a full scan with your antivirus software if you have it. For calls where the voice itself might be faked, see AI scam calls and voice cloning, and for fake video, deepfake scams.

What about scam emails and texts?

Our guide to security update scam emails covers fake warnings that your account or device needs urgent action, and scam texts after a bank outage covers what banks say they will never ask.

More questions

Is the "your phone number will be deactivated" call real?

No. The FTC says callers claiming its officials will deactivate your number over scams in another country are scammers. A real FTC employee will never threaten to disconnect your phone, ask you to send money or tell you to keep the call secret.

Can the FTC disconnect my phone number?

The FTC says a real FTC employee will never ever threaten to disconnect your phone, and calls any such threat a scam. If you're worried about your number, contact your phone provider using contact details you know are correct, such as those on a bill.

What if the caller said I'm under arrest?

The FTC says that's part of the same scam: the callers claim you're under arrest and must pay a security deposit to avoid going to another country. In the UK, Report Fraud says the police will never call asking you to transfer money.

How do I report a scam call in the UK?

Text 7726 with the word "Call" followed by the caller's number, as Report Fraud advises. If you've lost money, report it at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040, or to Police Scotland on 101 in Scotland.

Why did the scammer tell me to keep it secret?

The FTC says a real FTC employee will never ever tell you to keep your conversations secret, and that this is always a scam.

Sources

• The FTC is not calling to deactivate your phone number, FTC Consumer Advice (26 October 2026)
• Vishing, Report Fraud
• Report a scam phone call, NCSC
• What to do if you've been scammed, NCSC