Britons are being cautioned to remain alert as a surge in sophisticated scams is targeting phones, computers, and tablets in the UK.
Virgin Media O2’s team warns that cyber fraud is on the rise, and falling victim to these scams could result in personal data theft and monetary losses. The telecom company’s recent Scam Index indicates that approximately 18 million UK adults have been targeted by scammers in the past three months alone. June 2026 witnessed a spike in suspicious calls, prompting a fresh advisory for the public to stay vigilant.
Common scams circulating presently include fake parcel delivery notifications, online shopping fraud, account suspension alerts, and banking scams. Fraudsters are also employing tactics such as bogus tech support calls, fake lottery win messages, and HMRC scams to deceive victims into divulging sensitive information or sending money.
An emerging threat is the notorious “friends and family” impersonation scam, where scammers pose as familiar individuals 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 using convincing websites, realistic messages, and a sense of urgency to coerce victims into clicking on malicious links or disclosing confidential details.
Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud Prevention at Virgin Media O2, emphasized the evolving nature of fraud and its detrimental effects on victims. He highlighted the company’s efforts to safeguard customers by blocking scam texts, identifying suspicious calls, and combatting 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. This reporting service, available on all UK mobile networks, enables analysis of scam activity, identification of new fraud trends, investigation of malicious numbers, and enhancement of blocking systems to shield more individuals from future attacks.