O2 is warning customers about a new phishing scam where fraudsters send fake SIM card expiry messages to steal MyO2 login details. The telecoms provider issued the alert on Friday, urging subscribers to stay vigilant.
How the Scam Works
Fraudsters impersonate O2 and falsely claim that recipients' SIM cards are nearing expiry. The message directs victims to a bogus O2 website where they are instructed to log in and accept revised terms and conditions. This is designed to capture genuine login credentials, allowing scammers to hijack MyO2 accounts.
While the fake website may appear authentic, it is engineered to harvest usernames and passwords. O2 serves approximately 22.4 million subscribers in the UK, making it the second-largest mobile network operator behind the Vodafone-Three merged network.
Example of the Scam Message
The operator provided an example message: "O2UK: IMPORTANT: Your SIM Card(s) will be inactive on 04/06/2026, because you have NOT signed our Terms and Conditions. Logon to sign."
O2's Efforts to Combat Fraud
O2 has successfully prevented over 1 billion fraudulent messages from reaching customers, including thousands linked to this recent scam. The company has also implemented measures to block access to known fraudulent URLs across both the O2 and Virgin Media networks.
However, as scammers continuously adapt their methods and create new websites and messages, O2 urges Britons to remain alert when receiving unexpected calls and texts. The company encourages people across all networks to report suspected scams to 7726.
These reports enable telecoms providers to investigate and block mobile numbers used by fraudsters, while improving their blocking capabilities. This allows for faster identification of emerging trends and quicker message blocking.
Industry Collaboration
This alert follows a meeting between Virgin Media O2, StopScamsUK, BT/EE, VodafoneThree, and the Minister for Fraud Lord Hanson of Flint to explore ongoing collaboration to combat fraud and protect consumers.
Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud Prevention at Virgin Media O2, said: "Scammers are becoming more sophisticated, using increasingly believable and urgent requests to target victims alongside convincing fake websites, demonstrating just how clever their tactics can be. At Virgin Media O2, we're doing all we can to help Brits swerve the scammers, from blocking scam texts and malicious websites to rolling out enhanced fraud monitoring on online accounts. Every report to 7726 helps us act faster to shut down scams at source, so we're urging everyone to play their part and forward suspicious messages."
Advice for Customers
- O2 is not contacting any customers via text asking them to sign updated Terms and Conditions or face SIM deactivation. Such messages are scams.
- Be wary of threatening or urgent language designed to pressure you into acting quickly.
- If you receive messages from an unrecognized number, be cautious. On many smartphones, genuine O2 messages appear under a verified 'O2' contact rather than a standard mobile number.
- Never click a link in an unexpected message. Instead, go directly to the MyO2 app or call 202 on an O2 device to verify the request.
- Report suspicious messages to 7726.
- If you think you may have clicked a suspicious link and entered your login details, change your password immediately.
Additional Resources
Brits can find more information on protecting themselves from scams at Stop Think Fraud, the UK Government's national awareness campaign.
