Britons are being cautioned to remain attentive as a surge in sophisticated scams is targeting phones, computers, and tablets throughout the UK.
Virgin Media O2’s team highlights the escalating trend of cyber fraud, with the risk of personal data theft and financial losses to online scammers looming for those who fall victim.
The telecom company’s latest Scam Index underscores the severity of the situation, with approximately 18 million UK adults falling prey to scammers in just the past three months. June 2026 saw a spike in suspicious calls, marking it as a particularly troublesome month. Consequently, a fresh advisory has been issued urging the public to stay on high alert.
Various prevalent scams in circulation encompass fake parcel delivery notifications, online shopping fraud, account suspension alerts, and banking scams. Additionally, criminals are resorting to tactics such as bogus tech support calls, fake lottery winnings notifications, and HMRC scams asserting either outstanding payments or tax refunds owed to the victims.
An emerging threat is the notorious “friends and family” impersonation scam, where fraudsters pose as familiar individuals to solicit immediate financial aid. Virgin Media O2 cautions against sending money or divulging personal details to unknown contacts without verifying their identity beforehand.
Scammers are increasingly deploying deceptive websites, authentic-looking messages, and a sense of urgency to coerce victims into clicking on malicious links or sharing sensitive data.
Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud Prevention at Virgin Media O2, emphasizes the evolving nature of fraud and its detrimental impact on victims. The company is actively engaged in safeguarding customers by blocking scam texts, identifying suspicious calls, and intensifying efforts to thwart scammers.
The newly introduced Scam Index aims to monitor the threat landscape and enhance public awareness regarding criminals’ strategies, enabling individuals to recognize warning signals before falling prey. Given the record surge in suspicious calls during June, heightened vigilance is advised.
Virgin Media O2 reports having thwarted millions of scam attempts and encourages the public to report suspicious texts and calls by forwarding them to 7726.
The free 7726 reporting service is accessible across all UK mobile networks. These reports assist Virgin Media O2 in analyzing scam patterns, detecting emerging fraud trends, investigating malicious numbers, and fortifying its prevention mechanisms to shield more individuals from future attacks.