If you have a missed call or text message from a number that includes 077, you are likely looking at a number from a global region where ‘0’ is used as a trunk code. The three-digit sequence +077 or +77 is not assigned by the ITU as a standard international country code.
However, the sequence “077” is a highly active and important prefix in two specific telecommunications contexts:
- United Kingdom Mobile Numbers: In the UK, mobile numbers start with 07, making 077 a very common mobile prefix.
- Kazakhstan’s National Code: Calls from Kazakhstan use the country code +7, and most mobile numbers begin with +7 7.
This guide will clarify the real meaning of the 077 country code and provide clear instructions on how to correctly dial these numbers and, more importantly, how to identify and avoid related scams.
Decoding the 077 Prefix
When trying to understand a phone number, the presence of a leading zero often indicates that the number is being displayed in its national dialing format, not its international one.
- United Kingdom Mobile Phones (The Most Common Origin)
In the UK, mobile numbers begin with the National Dialing Prefix of 07.
| Context | Code Sequence | Country |
| UK Domestic Format | 077 XXX XXXX | United Kingdom (Mobile) |
| UK International Format | +44 77 XXX XXXX | United Kingdom (Mobile) |
- How to Dial: To call a UK mobile number starting with 077 from outside the UK, you must replace the leading ‘0’ with the country code +44. The ’77’ remains as the operator code.
- Kazakhstan’s Shared Code
Kazakhstan shares the country code +7 with Russia (a legacy of the Soviet era). However, all numbers allocated to Kazakhstan begin with the digit 7 immediately following the country code.
| Context | Code Sequence | Country |
| Kazakhstan International Format | +7 7X XXXX XXXX | Kazakhstan (Mobile Prefix) |
- The Misconception: If a number from Kazakhstan is incorrectly displayed or truncated, it might appear to start with +77. This is incorrect; the actual code is +7, and the second ‘7’ is the first digit of the National Significant Number (NSN).
Scam Alert: The Risk of Unknown 077/44 Calls
The 077 prefix, particularly in the UK context, is frequently targeted and exploited by phone scammers using number spoofing.
Spoofing and Unsolicited Mobile Calls (UK Focus)
Scammers often spoof mobile numbers in the UK (077, 078, 079) to make the call appear like a generic domestic mobile number.
- The Scam: The call attempts to impersonate banks, delivery services (Royal Mail), or government agencies (HMRC), tricking you into clicking a link in a text message or providing personal data over the phone.
- Actionable Advice: If you receive a text message from a UK mobile number (starting with +44 77) that claims an urgent payment or security issue, do not click any links. Legitimate UK institutions will rarely contact you this way.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is it expensive to call a UK 077 mobile number from the US?
Calls from the US to a UK mobile number (+44 77) are charged at international rates. Depending on your carrier plan, this can be expensive. Always check your plan or use a VoIP app (like WhatsApp or Skype) for cheaper international calls.
What is the time zone for the UK?
The UK observes Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) / Western European Time (WET), which is UTC+0 during the winter and British Summer Time (BST), which is UTC+1, during the summer.
What is the time zone for Kazakhstan?
Kazakhstan is primarily in the UTC+5 time zone.
If I receive a text with +32 77, where is it from?
The country code +32 belongs to Belgium. In this case, 77 is an operator or local code within Belgium, not a country code itself. The text would originate from a Belgian phone number.
Conclusion
The sequence 077 is not an international country code. Instead, it is most commonly a prefix for a mobile phone number in the United Kingdom (dialed as +44 77) or part of a national number in Kazakhstan (dialed as +7 7). Due to the high risk of number spoofing, exercise extreme caution with any unsolicited communication from this number range.
