Guidance

Check if a message or call you’ve received from OPG is genuine

Find out how OPG contacts customers and what to do if you are worried a call, email or message is not genuine.

Applies to England and Wales

Text messages

OPG sends text messages to customers registering an LPA to ask for payment.

It contains a link to a GOV.UK payment page and a reference number.

OPG will never ask for you to provide personal or financial information by text.

If you receive a text message from OPG asking for personal or financial information, do not click on any link or reply to it.

WhatsApp messages and calls

OPG does not use WhatsApp to message or call customers. Any communication through WhatsApp that claims to be from OPG is not genuine.

Making payment

You can pay OPG in one of three ways.

Payment can be made by credit or debit card. We will send a text message requesting payment. This will include a link to the GOV.UK payment page and a reference number.

Payment can also be made over the phone or by cheque. Our emails and letters will tell you how to do this and include a contact number for the card payments team and your reference number.

Reporting concerns

If you are concerned contact from OPG is not genuine, call our contact centre on 0300 456 0300 or email customerservices@publicguardian.gov.uk

If you have received a suspected scam message, contact the National Cyber Security Centre.

Forward suspicious emails to the NCSC report@phishing.gov.uk.

Forward suspicious text messages to 7726. This is free and will report the message to your mobile phone provider.

For more information please see ‘Avoid and report internet scams and phishing: Report internet scams and phishing - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)’.

Updates to this page

Published 18 August 2023
Last updated 25 August 2023 + show all updates
  1. Welsh added.

  2. First published.

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