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Information you can trust: United Kingdom.

A take-home sheet for people at the session. Other countries: United States · Canada · Australia.

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Information you can trust: United Kingdom

Handout · moraph.org/commons/sessions/voice/information-you-can-trust

Most of what you need to know about local services and voting comes from official sources you can check yourself. This sheet covers simple habits for checking claims and spotting messages that only pretend to be official.

Go to the source

  • Read agendas, minutes, budgets and notices before relying on a summary.
  • Type the official web address yourself, or search the main government portal.
  • For voting, use only your official election office.

Check the claim

  • Open a new tab and look up who is behind it.
  • Find the original notice or document.
  • Check the date: is it old news shared as new?
  • If you can’t check it, don’t share it.

Spot a scam

  • Watch for urgency, threats and unexpected contact.
  • Be wary of requests for personal or bank details, or payment by gift card or cryptocurrency.
  • Don’t click links or call numbers in the message. Find the agency’s contact details yourself.

If it happens

  • Stop replying, and contact your bank if you shared bank details.
  • Report it using the official routes on the back of this sheet.

In the United Kingdom

  • Official websites. Most public sector organisations must use a .gov.uk or other government domain for their websites, emails and services. To find an official service or phone number, search on GOV.UK rather than using a look-alike site.
  • Report suspicious messages. Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk, where the National Cyber Security Centre will investigate, and suspicious texts to 7726, which is free.
  • HMRC scams. HMRC says it could be a scam if a contact rushes you, is threatening or unexpected, asks for bank details, tells you to transfer money, or offers a refund. HMRC will never threaten arrest or ask you to pay with gift or payment vouchers. Suspicious HMRC texts can be sent to 60599 or emailed to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk.
  • If you lost money. In England and Wales, contact Report Fraud, the service formerly called Action Fraud, online or on 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, report it to Police Scotland.

Official places to check:

  • GOV.UK: www.gov.uk/report-suspicious-emails-websites-phishing
  • HM Revenue & Customs: www.gov.uk/guidance/identify-hmrc-related-scam-phone-calls-emails-and-text-messages
  • Government Digital Service: www.gov.uk/guidance/benefits-of-getting-a-govuk-domain

General information, not advice about your own situation. Checked 19 October 2026. If an official source says something different, it is right. Free to copy and adapt. moraph.org/commons/sessions/voice/information-you-can-trust