Virgin Media O2 Sounds Alarm Over 600 Million Scam Texts in 2025
Virgin Media O2 has slammed down the alarm bell after blocking over 600 million scam texts in 2025 alone. That’s more than double the total from the last two years combined. The telecom giant analysed thousands of dodgy messages reported in August, revealing the latest tricks fraudsters are using to target mobile users.
Fake Gambling, Job Offers, and Parking Fines: The Scams You Must Watch Out For
Fraudsters are pulling out all the stops with fake gambling offers, recruitment rip-offs, and bogus car finance schemes. Virgin Media O2’s top five scam types include:
- Gambling and fake prize scams
- ‘Hi Mum/Hi Dad’ impersonation scams
- Fake parking fines
- Recruitment cons
- Car finance mis-sell scams
The biggest threat? Gambling scams dangling promises of free credit or big rewards linked to dodgy websites that try to steal your personal data.
Spot the Lies: How Scammers Trick You
The notorious ‘Hi Mum/Hi Dad’ scam sees crooks pretending to be a distressed child, begging for cash transfers. Fake parking fines scare victims with threats of fines or penalties if they don’t pay up immediately through suspicious sites. Meanwhile, fake job ads lure jobseekers with bogus offers, and car finance scams trick victims out of compensation claims they’re supposedly entitled to.
Fight Back: Report Suspicious Texts for FREE
Virgin Media O2 urges everyone to stay sharp and report any suspicious texts or calls straight away. Simply forward scam messages to 7726 at no cost. Newer iPhone users can also hit the ‘report junk’ button for a quick fix.
Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud Prevention at Virgin Media O2, warned: “Fraud is on the rise. Always be cautious when you get unexpected calls or texts. Don’t share personal info and report anything fishy for free by texting 7726.”
