Britons are being cautioned to remain alert as a surge in sophisticated scams targets mobile devices and computers throughout the UK. Virgin Media O2’s team warns that cyber fraud is escalating rapidly, leading to potential theft of personal data and financial losses to online scammers.
The telecom company’s latest Scam Index indicates that approximately 18 million UK adults have been targeted by scammers in the last three months alone. June 2026 saw a peak in suspicious calls detected by the network, prompting a fresh advisory for the public to stay vigilant.
Common scams currently in circulation include fake parcel delivery notifications, online shopping fraud, account suspension alerts, and banking scams. Additionally, criminals are employing tactics such as bogus tech support calls, fake lottery win messages, and HMRC scams falsely claiming money owed or tax refunds due.
A growing concern is the infamous “friends and family” impersonation scam, where fraudsters pretend to be a known individual to request urgent financial assistance. Virgin Media O2 advises against sending money or sharing personal information with unfamiliar contacts without verifying their identity.
Scammers are increasingly using convincing websites, authentic-looking messages, and creating a false sense of urgency to coerce victims into clicking malicious links or divulging sensitive details.
Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud Prevention at Virgin Media O2, emphasized the evolving nature of fraud and its detrimental impact on victims. The company is actively working to safeguard customers by blocking scam texts, flagging suspicious calls, and implementing measures to combat scammers.
Virgin Media O2 has thwarted millions of scam attempts and encourages the public to report suspicious texts and calls by forwarding them to 7726. The free reporting service is accessible on all UK mobile networks and aids in analyzing scam patterns, identifying new fraud trends, investigating malicious numbers, and enhancing blocking systems to shield individuals from future attacks.