Britons are being cautioned to remain alert as a surge in sophisticated scams targets phones, computers, and tablets throughout the UK.
Virgin Media O2’s team warns that cyber fraud is on the rise at a concerning pace, with the risk of personal data theft and financial losses to online scammers.
Recent statistics from the telecom company’s latest Scam Index show that approximately 18 million UK adults have been targeted by scammers in the past three months alone. June 2026 marked a particularly high volume of suspicious calls detected by the network, prompting a fresh advisory for the public to stay vigilant.
Common scams in circulation include fake parcel delivery notifications, online shopping fraud, account suspension alerts, and banking scams. Criminals are also employing tactics such as bogus tech support calls, fake lottery win messages, and HMRC scams claiming owed money or tax refunds.
A growing concern is the notorious “friends and family” impersonation scam, where fraudsters pretend to be known individuals to solicit urgent financial assistance. Virgin Media O2 recommends refraining from sending money or sharing personal information with unfamiliar contacts without verifying their identity.
Scammers are increasingly using authentic-looking websites, realistic messages, and a sense of urgency to manipulate victims into clicking malicious links or divulging sensitive details.
Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud Prevention at Virgin Media O2, stated, “We witness firsthand the ever-evolving nature of fraud and its devastating impact on victims. Our continuous efforts aim to safeguard customers by thwarting scam attempts, identifying warning signs, and raising public awareness.”
Virgin Media O2 has thwarted millions of scam attempts and urges the public to report suspicious texts and calls by forwarding them to 7726. This reporting service is free and accessible on all UK mobile networks, aiding in the analysis of scam activity, detection of new fraud patterns, scrutiny of malicious numbers, and enhancement of blocking mechanisms to bolster protection against future attacks.
