With Black Friday 2025 set to begin on Friday, November 28, O2 has issued a warning to millions of UK users about an increase in scam texts. Cybercriminals are expected to exploit the shopping rush by sending fake delivery and shopping-related messages, capitalising on the fact that a quarter of Brits admit they often forget what they have purchased until it arrives.
Virgin Media O2 reports that it has already blocked hundreds of millions of scam messages this year, including millions of fake delivery alerts, using AI and firewall technology. The company urges customers to stay vigilant and not to click on suspicious links.
O2 has shared five tips to help protect consumers: keep a record of purchases to spot fake confirmations; be wary of unusual or shortened links in texts; ignore messages demanding immediate payment for parcel delivery; check if the sender appears as a branded name like DPD or Royal Mail; and be suspicious of generic messages that lack specific order details.
James Harwood, Fraud Prevention Strategy Lead at Virgin Media O2, said: 'Black Friday should be about landing great deals – not becoming victim to fraud. But unfortunately, sophisticated scammers know busy shopping periods are a perfect time for them to act. Don’t get stung this Black Fraud-day. If something looks suspicious, don’t click. Instead, report it to 7726 so we can investigate.'
