Phishing texts and emails impersonate UK Visas and Immigration demanding urgent fee payments or biometric rebooking

What is this scam?

Scam alerts issued in August 2026 warn of phishing emails and texts falsely impersonating the Home Office's UK Visas and Immigration service (UKVI). Messages claim the recipient missed a biometric enrolment appointment, that their visa application requires an additional processing fee, or that outstanding documentation must be submitted urgently — threatening application refusal or visa cancellation to create pressure. Links lead to convincing fraudulent UKVI portals designed to steal personal data, passport details, and payment card information. The Home Office never contacts applicants via unsolicited text to request payment — all legitimate UKVI correspondence arrives by post or through the official service at gov.uk/ukvi.

Example scam message

Red flags to look out for

• The message creates urgency — threatening a fine, missed delivery, or account closure.
• Links lead to unofficial domains that don't match the real company's website.
• You weren't expecting this message and can't verify the event it references.
• It asks you to confirm payment details or personal information via a link.
• The sender's number or email address doesn't match the company's official contact.

What to do if you receive this

1. Do not click links or call numbers provided in the message.
2. Contact the organisation directly using details from their official GOV.UK page.
3. Forward the message to 7726 or email report@phishing.gov.uk.
4. Report it to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk.