Missed call scams and job offer calls: what Ofcom is warning about
Your phone buzzes, you reach for it, and it stops. Unknown number, no voicemail. That is how a lot of missed call scams begin, and Ofcom has just put out fresh advice on them.
On 2 October 2026 the regulator flagged two common types. One is an automated voice saying it has a job offer for you. The other is an unknown number that rings for a few moments and then hangs up.
Both are built to make you call back. Doing nothing is the safest move here, which makes a nice change from most of life’s admin.
Key takeaways
- Missed call scams and automated job offer calls are the two types Ofcom flagged on 2 October 2026.
- The aim is to get you to ring back, or to pressure you into handing over personal details.
- Calling a premium rate number back can run up a large bill without you realising.
- If one rings, hang up, share nothing and report the call to 7726.
- Ofcom says fewer people report suspicious calls than four years ago, but it is still investigating four telecoms providers.
How do missed call scams actually work?
Missed call scams work by getting you to dial the scammer’s number yourself. A short ring from an unknown number is bait, and curiosity does the rest.
Once you are on the line, Ofcom says criminals try to manipulate or pressure people into giving out sensitive information, or into making payments to accounts the criminals control.
There is a second risk that has nothing to do with chatting. You could also run up a large bill by unknowingly calling a premium rate number. Ofcom does not put a figure on that, and neither will we, because it depends on the number and how long you stay on the line.
The job offer version follows the same script with a different hook. An automated voice says there is work for you, and a number to ring to find out more. You never applied for anything, so that offer is not for you.
What should you do if you get a missed call?
If you get a missed call from a number you do not know, hang up, give out no personal details and report the call to 7726. That is Ofcom’s advice, and it is refreshingly short.
In practice, that comes down to a few habits:
- Do not ring an unknown number back just to see who it was.
- Do not confirm your name, address, date of birth or bank details to anyone who rang you out of the blue.
- Report the call to 7726, as Ofcom advises.
If a real caller needs you, they will leave a voicemail or try again. A genuine job offer does not arrive as a robot voice from a number you have never seen.
Reporting takes seconds, and it beats lying awake wondering who rang. Treat the number as one to ignore, not one to investigate.
Pressure is the giveaway in all of this. A real firm will not mind you hanging up and finding their official number yourself. A scammer will push you to act now, so slow the call down and put the phone down.
If you have already rung back and shared bank details, contact your bank straight away using the number on your card. Then report the call to 7726 as well.
Are missed call scams getting worse?
Not according to Ofcom, which says the number of people reporting a recent suspicious call has fallen over the last four years. That is good news, but it does not mean missed call scams have gone away.
The regulator also says it has an ongoing programme of work on phone scams and scam mobile messages, and is currently investigating four telecoms providers as part of it.
Ofcom says it has already made it harder for scammers to spoof UK landline numbers. It has also set out strengthened guidance for telecoms companies on stopping criminals abroad using spoof UK mobile numbers, and expects firms to invest in technology to protect customers.
Nothing in Ofcom’s advice suggests missed call scams are tied to one network, so changing provider is not a fix on its own. What protects you is how you handle the call.
We have covered the wider picture before. See our guides on Ofcom’s number misuse investigation and spoofed calls. If texts are more your problem, our piece on the new rules on scam text messages covers that.
Where can you get more help with missed call scams?
Ofcom recently launched an online consumer hub with advice on protecting yourself against scams, plus money saving tips, help with common service problems and routes to complain. The hub sits at ofcom.org.uk/onyourside, and Ofcom’s own advice on job offer and missed call scams is the primary source for everything above.
Ofcom says telecoms companies are blocking millions of scam calls every month, so it is worth a quick look at what your own provider does. That is a better use of five minutes than answering mystery numbers. If you are due a new deal anyway, compare mobile plans while you are at it.
Frequently asked questions about missed call scams
- What is a missed call scam?
- It is a call from an unknown number that rings briefly and hangs up. The aim is to make you call back so the scammer can pressure you into sharing details or paying, or so you ring a premium rate number.
- What is the job offer call scam?
- It is an automated voice claiming to have a job offer for you. Like missed call scams, it is meant to get you to ring a number and hand over information.
- Where do I report a scam call?
- Hang up and report the call to 7726, as Ofcom advises. Do not give out personal details first.
- Can calling back cost me money?
- Yes. Ofcom warns you could run up a large bill by unknowingly calling a premium rate number. The amount depends on the number and the length of the call.
Sources
- Ofcom, Beware of job offer and missed call scams (2 October 2026): the two scam types, the advice to hang up, share nothing and report to 7726, the premium rate warning, the fall in reporting over four years, and the four provider investigations.
- Ofcom, On your side consumer hub: the consumer hub and its scam advice.
Checked 8 October 2026.
