070 numbers (+44 70): UK personal numbers

A 070 number is a UK 'personal number': a redirect number that forwards calls to whatever phone its owner chooses, so it is not a mobile even though it looks like one. Ofcom reserves the 070 range for personal numbering services. Because 070 numbers were heavily used in missed-call scams, Ofcom capped what providers can charge to connect calls to them from 1 October 2019.

United Kingdom · Personal numbers · Facts checked November 9, 2026

What these numbers look like

From abroad: +44 70XX XXXXXX
Inside United Kingdom: 070XX XXXXXX

Same length as a UK mobile (11 digits nationally), which is why people mistake it for one. The 070 prefix is the only clue.

Who uses UK 070 numbers?

Under Ofcom's National Telephone Numbering Plan, 070 is set aside for Personal Numbering Services: one number that can reach the holder on almost any phone. In its 1 October 2018 statement, Ofcom capped the wholesale termination rate on 070 calls at the same level as calls to mobiles, about 0.5p per minute, with effect from 1 October 2019. Since its October 2024 future-of-numbers statement, sharing call revenue with the called or the calling party has been banned on 070 numbers.

Who is calling you from a UK 070 number?

A business or person using a 'follow me' number that rings through to their own landline or mobile. Some sole traders and call centres use them. Before the 2019 cap, Ofcom estimated that at least 20% of 070 calls involved some kind of fraud. After the cap, BICS data showed 070 fraud calls fell by 75% between October 2019 and September 2020, but 070 numbers still show up in missed-call scams.

Scams seen with UK 070 numbers

Missed-call ('Wangiri') scams. An automated system rings for under a second so you see a missed call, usually from a 070 or 076 number, hoping you'll call back. You're charged for as long as you stay on the line (Ofcom).
Callbacks can still cost more than calling a mobile. Some providers include 070 calls in their bundles and some don't. Ofcom has said 070 calls can cost around 50p a minute from a landline and 86p a minute from a mobile.

What to do about a call from UK 070

Don't call back an unknown 070 number. A genuine caller will leave a voicemail or try again.
Check your provider's price list for 070 calls before you dial one on purpose.
Forward scam texts free to 7726. To report a mobile call, copy the number from your recent calls into a text to 7726.
If you've lost money, tell your phone provider and report it to Report Fraud (reportfraud.police.uk, 0300 123 2040), or to Police Scotland on 101.

Check the exact number

A series tells you what kind of line called. To check the full number you got, use these free tools:

Phone number validator: which country, mobile or landline, and whether the length is right.
Spam number checker: warning signs that a caller is a scammer.
Who called me? Reverse phone lookup: what the number tells you about the caller.
United Kingdom country code +44: full dialing guide and number formats.
Calling United Kingdom from abroad: per-minute rates if you need to call someone there.

Frequently asked questions

Is a 070 number a mobile?

No. It's a personal redirect number. It looks like a UK mobile, but the call is forwarded to whatever phone the holder has set.

How much does it cost to call a 070 number?

It depends on your provider. Since October 2019 the wholesale rate has been capped at mobile level, and some providers include 070 calls in their allowances, but others still charge more than for a mobile call.

Are 070 numbers scams?

Not all of them, but Ofcom says missed-call scams typically use 070 or 076 numbers. Don't call back one you don't recognise.

Who regulates 070 numbers?

Ofcom. It sets the rules in the National Telephone Numbering Plan and capped 070 termination rates in 2019.

Sources

Numbering facts on this page come from the regulator or operator sources below, checked November 9, 2026. We never publish individual personal phone numbers.

Ofcom - The National Telephone Numbering Plan (version with effect from 22 April 2025) (ofcom.org.uk)
Ofcom - Personal numbering: Review of the 070 number range, final statement (1 October 2018) (ofcom.org.uk)
Ofcom - Fall in scam calls following Ofcom action (BICS data, 75% drop) (ofcom.org.uk)
Ofcom - Missed call scams (ofcom.org.uk)
Ofcom - Statement: Future of telephone numbers, revenue sharing (11 October 2024) (ofcom.org.uk)
Ofcom - Guidance on the acceptable use of 070 numbers (ofcom.org.uk)
Ofcom - How to report scam texts and mobile calls to 7726 (ofcom.org.uk)
GOV.UK - Report Fraud: new service from City of London Police (replaces Action Fraud from 4 December 2025) (gov.uk)