Email scams, including phishing, are designed to trick you into sharing personal or financial details. Knowing what to look for helps you stay in control and protect your account.
If you’re not sure an email is genuine, don't click links or open attachments. Delete it straight away and never share your account or bank details.
How to spot a scam email
Scam emails often have clear warning signs. Look out for:
- A sender address that doesn't match the official company domain.
- Generic greetings, such as Dear Customer, instead of your name.
- Urgent language or threats, for example, claiming your account will be closed.
- Spelling, grammar or formatting errors.
- Links that show a different destination when you hover over them.
- Unexpected attachments, invoices or payment requests.
If something feels wrong, trust your instinct.
What to do if you receive a suspicious email
If an email doesn’t feel right, act quickly to protect yourself and your account.
Don’t interact with it
- Don't click any links.
- Don’t open attachments.
- Don’t reply or share personal details.
Report the email
Forward it to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service at report@phishing.gov.uk
Then forward it to us at phishing@bt.com. This helps us investigate and protect other customers.
Delete it
Once you’ve reported it, delete the email from your inbox and your trash folder.
If you clicked a link or shared details
If you think you may have interacted with a scam email:
- Run a full antivirus scan on your device.
- Change your BT password and any others that are the same.
- Contact your bank immediately if you entered banking details.
- Keep an eye on your accounts for unusual activity.
Stay informed about the latest scams
Scams change all the time. Checking the latest warnings helps you spot them early and protect your account.
Check current scam advice
See up‑to‑date scam alerts and guidance on what to look out for at
bt.com/help/security/scams.
If you’ve been affected by a scam
If you’ve lost money or think someone’s accessed your account, report it as soon as you can.
Action Fraud is the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime. Reporting it helps protect you and others.
Extra ways to protect yourself
You can reduce the risk of scams by:
- Turning on Web Threat Protect and BT Virus Protect.
- Enabling two‑step verification on important accounts.
- Keeping your browser and device operating system up to date.
- Using strong, unique passwords for every account.