A surge in sophisticated scams targeting phones, computers, and tablets across the UK has prompted authorities to issue a warning for Britons to remain cautious.
Virgin Media O2’s team highlighted the alarming rise in cyber fraud, emphasizing the risks of personal data theft and financial losses to online scammers for those who fall victim.
The telecom company’s latest Scam Index disclosed that approximately 18 million UK adults have been targeted by scammers in the last three months alone. June 2026 recorded the highest number of suspicious calls detected by the network, prompting a fresh alert for the public to stay vigilant.
Common scams circulating currently involve fake parcel delivery notifications, online shopping fraud, account suspension alerts, and banking scams. Additionally, fraudsters are employing tactics such as bogus tech support calls, fake lottery win messages, and HMRC scams to deceive victims into sharing personal information or making payments.
A growing concern is the rise of the well-known “friends and family” impersonation scam, where scammers pretend to be someone known to the victim to request urgent financial assistance. Virgin Media O2 advises against sharing personal information or sending money to unknown contacts without verifying their identity.
Scammers are increasingly resorting to authentic-looking websites, realistic messages, and creating a false sense of urgency to coerce individuals into clicking on malicious links or divulging sensitive data.
Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud Prevention at Virgin Media O2, emphasized the evolving nature of fraud and its detrimental effects on victims. The company is actively working to safeguard customers by blocking scam texts, flagging suspicious calls, and intensifying efforts to combat scammers.
Virgin Media O2 has already thwarted millions of scam attempts and encourages the public to report suspicious texts and calls by forwarding them to 7726.
The 7726 reporting service is accessible on all UK mobile networks, aiding in the analysis of scam activities, detection of new fraud trends, investigation of malicious numbers, and enhancement of blocking systems to protect more individuals from potential attacks.