Britons are being cautioned to remain vigilant as a surge in advanced scams targets mobile phones, computers, and tablets across the UK.
Virgin Media O2’s team warns that cyber fraud is escalating rapidly, risking the theft of personal data and financial losses to online criminals.
The telecom company’s latest Scam Index confirms alarming statistics, reporting that approximately 18 million UK adults have been targeted by scammers in the last three months. June 2026 recorded the highest number of suspicious calls ever detected by the network, prompting a fresh alert for the public to stay alert.
Common scams in circulation include fake parcel delivery notifications, online shopping fraud, account suspension alerts, and banking scams. Additionally, criminals are employing tactics such as fake tech support calls, fraudulent lottery win messages, and HMRC scams claiming money owed or tax refunds due.
An emerging threat is the infamous “friends and family” impersonation scam, where fraudsters pretend to be a known contact to request urgent financial assistance. Virgin Media O2 advises against sharing personal information or sending money to unknown numbers without verifying the identity first.
Scammers increasingly use authentic-looking websites, realistic messages, and a sense of urgency to push victims into clicking malicious links or disclosing sensitive details.
Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud Prevention at Virgin Media O2, emphasized the evolving nature of fraud and its destructive impact on victims. The company works tirelessly to protect customers by blocking scam texts, flagging suspicious calls, and taking action against 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 free reporting service is available on all UK mobile networks, aiding in analyzing scam patterns, identifying new fraud schemes, investigating malicious numbers, and enhancing blocking mechanisms to shield more individuals from future attacks.