Virgin Media O2 Issues Scam Warning
In 2025, Overover 600 million scam text messages have been detected and blocked, already exceeding the combined totals from 2023 and 2024. The telecom provider analysed messages reported throughout August to inform mobile phone users about the latest scam tactics.
🚨 “We’ve blocked 600M+ scam texts so far in 2025 – Moremore than double the total from 2023 and 2024 combined,” Virgin Media O2 announced via Twitter.
Types of Scams
Fraudsters are primarily targeting individuals with fake gambling offers, recruitment schemes, and car finance scams. Users are urged to be vigilant and report suspicious texts.
Top Scam Types
The top five scams identified by Virgin Media O2 include:
- Gambling/fake prize scams
- ‘Hi Mum/Hi Dad’ scams
- Fake parking fines
- Recruitment scams
- Car finance mis-sold
The most frequently reported scams involve gambling or fake prize offers, where fraudsters entice victims with promises of free ‘credit’ or ‘rewards’ linked to unsafe websites, requesting personal information.
How to Avoid Scams
The ‘Hi Mum/Hi Dad’ scam is another prevalent tactic, where scammers impersonate a child in distress and request money transfers. Additionally, fake parking fines threaten severe penalties unless payments are made to dubious websites.
Recruitment scams falsely advertise lucrative job openings, while car finance scams mislead victims about compensation entitlements.
Reporting Suspicious Messages
Mobile phone users are encouraged to report suspicious text messages or calls by forwarding them to Virgin Media O2 at 7726 for free. Customers with newer iPhones can also use the ‘report junk’ feature for unsolicited messages.
Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud Prevention at Virgin Media O2, stated, “With fraud continuing to increase, we’re reminding people to remain vigilant; always be careful when you receive a call or text out of the blue, don’t share personal details with anyone, and report suspicious messages for free to 7726.”
