A fake UK emergency alert scam using spoofed emails is spreading, warning users to verify receipt—though the government never contacts people this way.

A phishing scam impersonating the UK’s new Emergency Alert system has emerged after a nationwide test on September 7, 2025, with fake emails appearing in Gmail and Yahoo inboxes. The messages, mimicking official GOV.UK branding, ask users to verify if they received the alert and include malicious links. Authorities and consumer group Which? warn the emails are not legitimate and could lead to data theft or malware. Users are advised not to click links or share personal information, as the government would never request verification via unsolicited email. The incident underscores growing cyber risks exploiting public safety alerts.