Britons are being cautioned to remain alert as a surge in sophisticated scams targets phones, computers, and tablets nationwide. Virgin Media O2’s team highlights the ongoing rise in cyber fraud, emphasizing the risk of personal data theft and financial loss from online criminals.
The telecom company’s latest Scam Index confirms alarming figures, revealing that approximately 18 million UK adults have been targeted by scammers in the past three months alone. June 2026 recorded the highest number of suspicious calls ever detected by the network, prompting a fresh warning for the public to stay vigilant.
Common scams circulating currently include fake parcel delivery notifications, online shopping fraud, account suspension alerts, and banking scams. Criminals are also deploying tactics like bogus tech support calls, fake lottery win messages, and HMRC scams claiming owed money or tax refunds.
An emerging threat is the notorious “friends and family” impersonation scam, where fraudsters pretend to be someone known to request urgent financial assistance. Virgin Media O2 advises against sending money or sharing personal information with unknown contacts without verifying their identity first.
Scammers increasingly rely on authentic-looking websites, realistic messages, and 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, “We witness firsthand the ever-evolving nature of fraud and its devastating impact on victims. We are dedicated to safeguarding our customers, from blocking scam texts to flagging suspicious calls, and we are actively combating 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. This free reporting service is accessible on all UK mobile networks, aiding in analyzing scam activity, identifying new fraud trends, investigating malicious numbers, and enhancing blocking systems to shield more individuals from future attacks.