The Digital Landline Switchover Is Real. The Upgrade Fee Is Not.

VERDICT: STRONGLY VERIFIED (V4)

The digital landline switchover is genuine. An unexpected demand that you pay to make the switch is not.

CLAIM

Scammers are exploiting the UK’s move from analogue landlines to digital services by posing as telecoms representatives and demanding payment or financial details.

EVIDENCE

UK government guidance confirms that the technology underpinning the analogue Public Switched Telephone Network is being retired by January 2027.

Citizens Advice warns that if someone says you need to pay to switch your phone line, it is a scam and says home-phone providers will not ask customers to pay to switch to a digital phone line.

Bromsgrove District Council warns of criminals posing as BT staff, asking for personal and payment details for an upgrade and threatening to cut off the landline if the resident refuses. Stoke-on-Trent City Council separately warns of callers requesting payment or bank details to renew telecare services.

TEST

The scam pretext is documented by consumer and local-government sources. TVD has not identified a national loss total for this specific method and does not claim one.

VERDICT

V4 — Strongly Verified.

How to prevent it

• Do not pay an unexpected caller for the landline switchover.
• Contact your provider independently using details from your bill or official website.
• If you use a personal alarm or telecare device, tell your telecoms and telecare providers so compatibility can be checked.
• Do not let a threat of immediate disconnection rush you into giving bank details.

Warning signs

• An unexpected caller says you must pay for the digital landline switchover.
• You are threatened with immediate disconnection unless you provide bank details.
• A caller claims to represent your telecoms or telecare provider but asks you to use unfamiliar payment details.

What to do if you responded

Contact your telecoms provider independently using the number on your bill or its official website. If you supplied payment details, contact your bank. If you use telecare or a personal alarm, separately confirm compatibility with the genuine provider.

Where to report it

Report the approach to the genuine provider and use the appropriate official fraud-reporting route if money or sensitive information was taken. See Fraud First Aid.

Sources: GOV.UK digital-landline guidance; Citizens Advice; Bromsgrove District Council; Stoke-on-Trent City Council.