Virgin Media O2 has issued a red alert to users following a massive rise in online scams, urging the public to stay vigilant and report suspicious activity by texting the number 7726.
Record Number of Scam Calls Flagged in June
According to the company's Scam Index, 18 million adults in the UK have been targeted by cyber criminals in the past three months alone. In June, the operator flagged more suspicious calls than at any point in its history, prompting the warning to stay alert.
Top 10 Most Common Scams
Virgin Media O2 has published a list of the top 10 attacks used by hackers, including delivery scams, online shopping scams, account suspension scams, banking scams, tech support scams, lottery scams claiming “You’ve won!”, and government HMRC scams warning of owed money or a rebate due. The friends or family impersonation scam also remains prevalent, and users are advised never to hand over money if contacted from an unknown number.
How Scammers Operate
The latest data reveals that scammers use believable requests, realistic websites, and a sense of urgency to trick victims into clicking links or sharing personal data. Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud Prevention at Virgin Media O2, said: “We see first-hand how fraud is constantly changing and the devastating impact it can have on victims. We work around the clock to protect our customers, from blocking scam texts to flagging suspicious calls, and we’re doing everything we can to shut out scammers. Our new Scam Index will track the threat and help raise awareness of the tactics criminals use, so the public can spot the warning signs before it’s too late. With June a record month for suspicious calls, people should be on high alert.”
How to Report Scams
Virgin Media O2 urges Brits to forward suspicious calls and messages to 7726, a free service available on every UK mobile network. By analysing scam messages and calls, the company gains insights into fraudsters' tactics, which are used to investigate and block mobile numbers, refine blocking services, and identify new trends faster. The goal is to stop more attacks and reduce the number of victims.
