A UK mobile number has been reported over 30,000 times for sending fake recruitment messages to thousands of people across Britain. The number 07860 054789 operates on the O2 network and has been active since at least September 2024.
Table of Contents
How the Scam Operates
The text message arrives without warning. No company name. No context. Just a casual question that could have come from anyone.
“Hi, are you free for a quick chat? now?”
That single message has been sent to thousands of UK mobile users. The phrasing mimics how friends and colleagues communicate. Job seekers assume it’s a recruiter. People with work phones think it’s a client or colleague using a new number.
If you respond, the scam escalates.
A second message reveals a supposed job opportunity. The sender identifies themselves:
- Grace from Hemford Brooks
- Elaine with available roles
- Jade offering employment
- Representatives from Oriel Partners
None of these recruitment agencies exist. Searches of UK business registers return nothing. The names are fabricated.
The conversation moves quickly to personal questions. Age verification. Employment history. Requests to continue the discussion on WhatsApp or another encrypted platform.
One person who responded reported this exchange: After texting back “Who is this?”, they received “Hi, I’m Jade. We’ve got a role available that could suit you well. Can I send a few quick details for you to check before deciding?”
Another victim, actively job hunting in late 2025, nearly engaged because the timing made the offer seem legitimate.
The Scale of the Problem
Phonely, a UK phone number tracking service, logged 30,812 searches for 07860 054789. The platform collected 101 individual reports from people who received identical messages.
Tellows, another scam reporting site, recorded 7,191 additional searches for the same number.
The number belongs to a sequence. Three related numbers follow the same pattern:
- 07860054784
- 07860054787
- 07860054789
All three share the 0786005478X prefix. All three operate on Telefonica UK’s network. All three send the same opening messages.
Reports began appearing in September 2024. The number remained active through 2025 and into February 2026. That 17-month span indicates the operation generates enough successful responses to justify continued use.
Network and Technical Details
The 07860 prefix belongs to Telefonica UK Limited, the company that operates O2. This doesn’t implicate O2 in the fraud. Scammers obtain mobile numbers through:
Pay-as-you-go SIM cards purchased with fake identification. Compromised customer accounts accessed through phishing. Bulk number purchases from underground sellers who exploit network provisioning systems.
O2 has published official warnings about text message fraud on their support pages. The company states clearly: legitimate O2 communications never request one-time codes, passwords, or security details via SMS.
The network operates call filtering services called Brand ID and Call Defence. These tools flag known scam numbers. But new numbers appear faster than databases update. The system can’t catch everything.
Why This Works
Traditional smishing attempts are obvious. They claim missed deliveries. They demand payment for unpaid bills. They include suspicious links and urgent language.
The 07860054789 operation uses different psychology.
No link. No immediate financial request. No obvious red flags. Just a conversational opening that forces your brain to fill gaps.
When someone texts “can we talk?” without identifying themselves, your mind cycles through possibilities. Did a friend get a new phone? Is this about that job application? Did I forget to save someone’s contact?
That uncertainty gets people to respond.
The fake recruitment angle targets specific anxieties. UK unemployment figures fluctuated throughout 2024 and 2025. Cost of living pressures remained high. Remote work normalized unexpected job offers from unknown numbers.
People searching for work face constant pressure to respond quickly. They fear missing opportunities. That fear overrides caution.
Real Victim Accounts
A professional received the message on their work phone in September 2025. The text read “hi, are you free for a quick chat? now?” The work context made it seem plausible until they verified the number online.
Another person got “Hello, have a nice day today” with no follow-up. When they didn’t respond, the scammers marked their number inactive and moved on.
Someone else reported: “I thought it was my friend who I was expecting a text from so asked if it was them. They responded: ‘Hi, I’m Elaine. We’ve got a role available that could suit you well. Can I send a few quick details for you to check before deciding?'”
The pattern holds across all 101 documented reports. Same opening style. No variation. Volume operation designed for maximum reach with minimal effort.
What Happens to Your Information
Data collected through these scams sells on criminal marketplaces. A complete profile containing name, age, employment status, and phone number fetches between ยฃ5 and ยฃ15 depending on detail level.
Buyers use this information for identity theft, targeted phishing campaigns, SIM swap fraud, and credit application fraud. Some use it for social engineering attacks on employers.
The initial text message seems harmless. The consequences aren’t.
How to Respond
If you receive a text from 07860 054789:
Do not reply. Do not provide any information. Do not move the conversation to WhatsApp or another platform.
Report it immediately:
Forward the complete message to 7726 (this spells SPAM on your phone keypad). The service is free. O2 investigates reported numbers and can block them network-wide.
Send details to spam@o2.com including the sender’s number, time received, and full message text. Screenshots help.
Block the number:
iPhone: Tap the number, scroll down, select “Block this Caller.”
Android: Long-press the message, choose “Block contact.”
O2 also maintains a nuisance reporting email at nuisance@telefonica.com for persistent issues.
Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime, collects pattern data that helps law enforcement identify criminal networks. Individual number reports contribute to larger investigations.
What O2 Says
Official O2 guidance published in July 2025 confirmed smishing attacks use mobile numbers instead of short codes to appear legitimate. The company outlined common tactics: vague polite phrasing, requests to verify personal details, and attempts to move conversations to encrypted platforms.
O2’s fraud team investigates reported numbers. The company forwards serious cases to law enforcement. But blocking happens after damage occurs. The best protection is recognition.
The Bottom Line
The number 07860 054789 operates as part of a confirmed fraud campaign targeting UK mobile users. Over 30,000 searches across multiple platforms, consistent victim reports spanning 17 months, and the sequential number pattern document an organized operation.
If you received a message, you’re not alone. The scammers sent thousands hoping for responses. Don’t give them one. Report the number. Block it. And if someone you know mentions getting a vague “can we talk?” text from an unknown number, tell them what you know now.
