--- title: UK Mobile Phone Contract Scam Alert | Hiya description: An elaborate mobile phone contract scam is targeting UK residents. Learn how fraudsters impersonate retailers like Currys PC World. image: https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/Currys-PC-World-Scam-A.jpg --- [![Hiya logo](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/hiya-new-purple.svg)](https://www.hiya.com/) Solutions Solutions [For Mobile Operators Protect your network](https://www.hiya.com/solutions/operators) [For Businesses Brand your calls](https://www.hiya.com/solutions/businesses) [For People Get the mobile app](https://www.hiya.com/products/apps/hiya-spam-blocker) ###### Webinar Branded Calling 101 Weekly Webinar Make your company's calls more recognizable. Learn how Hiya can drive value for your business. 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[Read eBook Arrow Right](https://www.hiya.com/resources/ebooks/10-tips-for-customer-friendly-phone-calls) [Get Started Arrow Right](https://www.hiya.com/#audience) [Log in](https://connect.hiya.com/login) [Get started](https://www.hiya.com/#audience) - [Home](https://hiya.com) - [Blog](https://blog.hiya.com) - [Elaborate mobile phone contract scam targets UK residents](https://blog.hiya.com/elaborate-mobile-phone-contract-scam-targets-uk-residents) [Hiya Protect](https://blog.hiya.com/tag/hiya-protect) [Scam Trends](https://blog.hiya.com/tag/scam-trends) # Elaborate mobile phone contract scam targets UK residents [Andrea Moreno](https://blog.hiya.com/author/andrea-moreno) May. 23, 2023 [![](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/icon-fb.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://blog.hiya.com/elaborate-mobile-phone-contract-scam-targets-uk-residents) [![](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/icon-x.svg)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.hiya.com/elaborate-mobile-phone-contract-scam-targets-uk-residents&text=Elaborate+mobile+phone+contract+scam+targets+UK+residents) [![](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/icon-linkedin.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.hiya.com/elaborate-mobile-phone-contract-scam-targets-uk-residents) ## At a glance ![](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/Currys-PC-World-Scam-A.jpg) Some phone scams are simple, such as selling a product or service that’s never delivered. Others can be quite elaborate. That seems to be the case with the Currys PC World scam in the UK. In the first quarter of 2023, the second-most-reported unwanted call in the UK (behind cryptocurrency scams) involved calls purportedly from Currys PC World. Currys is a large retailer of technology products and services, and has more than 800 stores in eight countries. Its size and name recognition make it a favorite for scammers to impersonate.  In Q1 2023 Hiya users reported hundreds of Currys scam and spam calls. Users also reported calls from Carphone Warehouse, which merged with Currys in 2014. These reports come directly from consumers using Hiya’s spam and fraud protection on Samsung devices and the Hiya app. When customers receive unwanted calls, they can tap a prompt on their phone to report it as spam or fraud.  While some users simply reported “telemarketing” or “sales” calls from Currys (Currys does call customers about deliveries, adding extended warranties, etc.), most users reported suspected scam calls. Here are some examples:  - *“Man pretending to be from Currys trying to scam me into a phone contract for an iPhone 14 Max.”* - *“Kevin calling from Currys PC World and running a 40% discount, wanted to know what phone I have.”* - *“Claimed to be Currys PC World. Used a phone number that made it look like it was a local number calling, but clearly calling from overseas due to call lag.”* - *“Acting as Currys, then say they are working with phone networks and can send you a brand new phone. Takes loads of details and wants your bank details.”* - *“Says calling from Currys, who I happen to work for, and we don't call customers up randomly. I actually had a customer come in who had been scammed by this.”* *![Global-Call-Threat-Report_2023Q1_Final_UK](https://blog.hiya.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Global-Call-Threat-Report_2023Q1_Final_UK.jpg?width=1300&height=533&name=Global-Call-Threat-Report_2023Q1_Final_UK.jpg)* *In the first quarter of 2023, Currys PC World was the #2 most common spam call reported by Hiya users.  * ##### **How the scam works** But what if the call recipient does order an upgraded phone and/or phone plan from a scammer posing to be from Currys? That’s where it gets interesting. [An article](https://www.phonesltd.co.uk/currys-carphone-warehouse-mobile-contract-cold-call-scam-fraud/) in the online publication PhonesLTD.co.uk describes how the scam works: *This Currys and Carphone Warehouse scam has been ongoing for the past three years from fraudsters claiming to work for different fictitious companies. They offer temptingly cheap mobile packages for the latest iPhone and Samsung smartphones as well as SIM only deals. * *Once the fraudsters have gained personal and banking details, they use them to order mobile contracts but not for the phone or SIM card you’ve asked for. They place orders directly with the networks and any upfront cost is taken by the network, usually up to £50.* *Phones are delivered to the victims’ house and the fraudsters call and email pretending they’ve made a mistake and it’s someone else’s order. They convince the victims to send the phones back via their local post office or courier collection. The fraudsters then wait at those properties for the deliveries and steal the phones!* *This leaves the victims with multiple, expensive contracts (usually £80+ a month!) and no phones to send back to where they were actually ordered from to cancel the contracts.* ##### **Learn about other phone scams worldwide** Want to discover the top phone scams in other countries? The Currys PC World scam is one of the many scams highlighted in Hiya’s [Q1 2023 Global Call Threat Report](https://www.hiya.com/global-call-threat-report). The report not only reveals the most common scams in several countries, but also compares spam and fraud call volumes in 38 countries around the globe. Data in the report is based on more than 6.7 billion spam calls observed by Hiya worldwide in the first quarter of 2023. [![Twitter-Image #1@2x-1](https://blog.hiya.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Twitter-Image%20%231@2x-1.jpg?width=1600&height=900&name=Twitter-Image%20%231@2x-1.jpg)](https://www.hiya.com/global-call-threat-report)   [![banner-hiya-reg](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/banner-hiya-reg.jpg)](https://www.hiya.com/products/connect/number-registration) ### Latest Articles ⚡️ - Hiya awarded 16 G2 Summer 2026 badges for branded caller ID Lena Prickett Jul. 9, 2026 - How Canada is leading the fight to stop bank scams Stephanie Boulanger Jun. 26, 2026 - How to check phone numbers for spam labels Michelle Wallace Jun. 9, 2026 ## Related articles ![](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/rogers-toronto-event-blog-hero.webp) ## [How Canada is leading the fight to stop bank scams](https://blog.hiya.com/how-canada-is-leading-the-fight-to-stop-bank-scams?hsLang=en) Stephanie Boulanger Jun. 26, 2026 ![](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/Blog_How-to-check-phone-numbers-for-spam-labels_B.webp) ## [How to check phone numbers for spam labels](https://blog.hiya.com/how-to-check-phone-numbers-for-spam-labels?hsLang=en) Michelle Wallace Jun. 9, 2026 ![](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/Hiya%20x%20DNA-blog@2x.webp) ## [Hiya and DNA Finland launch network-level call protection](https://blog.hiya.com/hiya-and-dna-finland-launch-network-level-call-protection?hsLang=en) Stephanie Boulanger Jun. 2, 2026 [![](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/hiya-new-purple.svg)](https://www.hiya.com/) [![](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/linkedin-1.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/hiyainc) [![](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/facebook-1.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/hiyainc/) ###### Products - Connect - [Number Registration](https://www.hiya.com/products/connect/number-registration) - [Branded Call](https://www.hiya.com/products/connect/branded-call) - [View Plans](https://www.hiya.com/products/connect/pricing) - Protect - [Spam Analytics](https://www.hiya.com/products/protect/spam-analytics) - [AI Voice Detection](https://www.hiya.com/products/protect/ai-voice-detection) - Apps - [Hiya Spam Blocker](https://www.hiya.com/products/apps/hiya-spam-blocker) - [Hiya AI Phone](https://www.hiya.com/products/apps/hiya-ai-phone) ###### Solutions - Company size - [Enterprise](https://www.hiya.com/solutions/enterprise) - [Call Centers](https://www.hiya.com/solutions/call-center) - [Small and Medium](https://www.hiya.com/solutions/businesses) - Service providers - [Operators](https://www.hiya.com/solutions/operators) - [OEMs and technology](https://www.hiya.com/solutions/technology-partners) ###### Considering Hiya? - [Why Hiya](https://www.hiya.com/why-hiya) - [How it Works](https://www.hiya.com/how-it-works) - [Customer Stories](https://www.hiya.com/case-studies) - [Voice Intelligence Platform](https://www.hiya.com/why-hiya/voice-intelligence-platform) - [Trust Center](https://www.hiya.com/why-hiya/trust-center) - [Modern Slavery](https://www.hiya.com/company/modern-slavery) - [About Hiya](https://www.hiya.com/company/about) - [Careers: We're hiring!](https://www.hiya.com/company/careers) - [Contact us](https://www.hiya.com/contact-us) ###### Resources - [Resource Center](https://www.hiya.com/resources) - [Partner Program](https://partners.hiya.com/) - [Get Support](https://hiya.com/support) - [Developer Docs](https://developer.hiya.com/) - [Hiya Blog](https://hiya.com/blog) - [Events](https://www.hiya.com/events) - [Press Kit](https://www.hiya.com/newsroom#press-kit) ![ANAB](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/logo-anab.svg) ![ISO 27001](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/logo-iso27017.png) ![AICPA](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/logo-aicpa.svg) ![IAF](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/logo-iaf.svg) [Privacy Policy](https://www.hiya.com/legal/privacy) [Terms of Service](https://www.hiya.com/legal/terms-of-service) [App Data Privacy Policy](https://www.hiya.com/legal/app-data-protection-and-privacy-policy) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Andrea Moreno", "url" : "https://blog.hiya.com/author/andrea-moreno" }, "dateModified" : "2025-10-08T15:23:54.688Z", "datePublished" : "2023-05-23T14:54:08.000Z", "headline" : "UK Mobile Phone Contract Scam Alert | Hiya", "image" : [ "https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/Currys-PC-World-Scam-A.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.hiya.com/elaborate-mobile-phone-contract-scam-targets-uk-residents", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/hiya-logo-3.svg" }, "name" : "Hiya Inc." } } ```