Downing Street has confirmed that a hoax caller pretending to be the head of GCHQ was put through to David Cameron on Sunday, prompting a review of government security procedures – but the prime minister isn't the first person to be fooled by a prank caller.
Cameron spoke to the hoax caller, who claimed to be Robert Hannigan, the head of GCHQ, but reportedly hung up quickly after realising that the caller was a fraud. According to a Downing Street spokesperson, the call was "quite brief" and no sensitive information was revealed.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Colleges are canceling affinity graduations amid DEI attacks but students are pressing onIn the Spotlight The commencement at Harvard University was in the news, but other colleges are also taking action
-
When did computer passwords become a thing?The Explainer People have been racking their brains for good codes for longer than you might think
-
What to know before 'buying the dip'the explainer Purchasing a stock once it has fallen in value can pay off — or cost you big
-
‘The tide will turn against the Tories unless they build more homes’Instant Opinion Your digest of analysis and commentary from the British and international press
-
‘A society preoccupied with national symbols is an insecure one’Instant Opinion Your digest of analysis and commentary from the British and international press
-
‘The assumptions of postwar politics are crumbling’Instant Opinion Your digest of analysis and commentary from the British and international press
-
‘The UK government’s union problems are mounting on all fronts’Instant Opinion Your digest of analysis and commentary from the British and international press
-
‘Thousands of children in care are at risk due to Brexit’Instant Opinion Your digest of analysis and commentary from the British and international press
-
Instant Opinion: Boomers should ‘take note’ of climate marchIn Depth Your guide to the best columns and commentary on Friday 20 September
-
Instant Opinion: ‘David Cameron is not the only one to blame for Brexit mess’In Depth Your guide to the best columns and commentary on Thursday 19 September
-
Pigeon poos on politician as he protests about pigeon pooSpeed Read And other stories from the stranger side of life
