Virgin Media O2 users are being cautioned to stay vigilant as a concerning new scam trend emerges. The telecommunications company has issued a warning following a significant increase in individuals falling victim to fraudulent call center numbers generated by artificial intelligence.
Reports indicate that millions may have already been deceived into dialing numbers that lead them to cybercriminals seeking to pilfer personal information, such as banking details.
Approximately 13% of UK consumers have reportedly encountered fake customer service numbers through search engines or AI tools, as per the company’s findings.
Virgin Media attributed the rise in scams to criminals leveraging AI-powered tools to present consumers with counterfeit phone numbers, websites, and search results, enabling them to harvest data and commit fraudulent activities.
With many individuals now relying on AI-generated results for information retrieval, hackers are exploiting this trust to set traps effectively.
To safeguard against such scams, Virgin emphasizes the importance of using authentic service numbers provided on official company websites, apps, or bills. For direct contact with O2, calling 202 from an O2 device is recommended, while Virgin Media customers can dial 150 from their landlines.
It is advised to exercise caution when encountering numbers from search engines, social media posts, or AI tools. Furthermore, individuals are urged not to disclose security codes or personal details to unsolicited callers, regardless of their claimed identity.
Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud Prevention at Virgin Media O2, highlighted the risks associated with AI tools enabling fraudsters to create deceptive numbers that appear legitimate in search results or chatbots, potentially leading individuals to contact criminals instead of trusted providers.
Virgin Media O2 is actively combating scams by blocking known scammer numbers on their network and utilizing AI to flag over 1 billion suspicious calls to date. The public is encouraged to assist in the fight against scams by reporting suspicious numbers to 7726 for swift action against fraudulent activities.
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