Is a text or email from the government asking me to verify my identity on a new digital ID system real?
Be very cautious. Government digital ID communications are issued through official portals and pre-announced — unsolicited texts asking you to verify are almost always phishing.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Explanation
Digital identity phishing campaigns impersonate government agencies by telling you that you must verify your identity on a new system or your access to benefits, tax, or healthcare records will be suspended. The message contains a link to a convincing fake government website that harvests your real government login credentials or your personal and financial details. Genuine government digital identity programmes are announced publicly through official channels and allow extended transition periods. They do not send bulk SMS or email demanding immediate verification under threat of account closure. In the UK, legitimate digital identity services include GOV.UK Verify and HMRC online accounts — accessed by typing the address yourself, never via a link in a message.
Common red flags
- Unsolicited text about a new government digital identity system
- Link in the message rather than instruction to visit an official portal
- Threat that benefits or tax records will be suspended without immediate action
- Request for bank details as part of identity verification
- Sender address or URL does not match the official government domain
What to do now
- Do not click any link in the message
- Visit the relevant government portal by typing the address yourself
- Call the relevant agency using a number from the official website
- Report the phishing message to your national fraud service
Frequently asked questions
How will I know when a real government digital identity scheme launches?
Genuine schemes are announced through official government websites, mainstream media, and written letters — not through mass text campaigns.