As Black Friday 2025 approaches on November 28, shoppers are gearing up for a massive week of deals and discounts. While the annual event presents exciting opportunities for savings, it also poses increased risks for consumers, with cybercriminals leveraging the frenzy to perpetrate scams through deceptive text messages.
Among the prevalent threats are delivery scams, exploiting the tendency of online shoppers to overlook their purchases. Scammers capitalize on this by sending fake notifications related to missed deliveries or other shopping-related messages.
In response to these risks, O2 has issued a strong cautionary message, advising consumers to remain vigilant during this shopping period.
O2 highlighted the challenge, stating, “With billions expected to be spent by deal-seekers over Black Friday, a significant number of shoppers (25%) admit to forgetting their purchases until they are delivered. This forgetfulness increases the credibility of delivery scam texts, which scammers are keen to exploit.”
To enhance customer safety, Virgin Media O2 has implemented advanced AI and firewall technologies to combat scam calls and texts. The company reports that it has successfully intercepted hundreds of millions of scam messages this year, including millions of counterfeit delivery alerts.
For individuals concerned about falling victim to these scams, O2 has shared five essential tips to safeguard against fraudulent activities:
1. Keep a record of your orders to easily identify any discrepancies.
2. Exercise caution with suspicious links in texts, especially those redirecting to unfamiliar or unusually formatted websites, particularly if they claim to be from renowned couriers like DPD or Royal Mail.
3. Be wary of urgent payment requests in messages, as legitimate delivery services do not demand immediate payments via text to ensure parcel delivery.
4. Verify sender details, as legitimate courier messages typically display recognizable names, not random or international numbers.
5. Exercise caution with generic messages lacking specific details about your purchases, as scammers often use vague content to deceive a broad audience.
Regarding the current threat landscape, James Harwood, Fraud Prevention Strategy Lead at Virgin Media O2, emphasized the importance of vigilance, stating, “Black Friday should be synonymous with great deals, not falling victim to fraud. Unfortunately, sophisticated scammers exploit the busy shopping period to target unsuspecting consumers.”
Harwood continued, “While we have successfully blocked millions of scam texts, including fake delivery notifications this year, we are issuing new guidance to help more consumers evade scams this festive season. Avoid falling prey to scams this Black Friday. If in doubt, refrain from clicking and report any suspicious activity to 7726 for investigation.”
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