Virgin Media O2 users are being urged to remain vigilant as a concerning new scam targeting them has emerged. The telecommunications company has issued a warning following a significant increase in individuals falling victim to fraudulent call center numbers generated by artificial intelligence.
According to reports, millions of people may have already been deceived into dialing numbers that lead them to cybercriminals seeking to pilfer personal information, including sensitive financial details.
Approximately 13% of UK consumers have reportedly encountered fake customer service numbers through search engines or AI tools, as criminals exploit AI technology to display counterfeit contact information, websites, and search results, enabling them to gather data and commit fraudulent activities.
Many individuals now rely on AI-generated results when seeking information, providing hackers with an ideal opportunity to carry out their schemes.
To safeguard against such scams, Virgin Media advises customers to exclusively use authentic service numbers found on official company websites, apps, or billing statements. For those needing assistance from O2, dialing 202 from an O2 device is recommended, while Virgin Media customers should call 150 from a landline.
It is also advised to exercise caution when encountering numbers from search engine results, social media posts, or AI tools, and to refrain from sharing security codes or personal information with unsolicited callers, regardless of their claimed identity.
Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud Prevention at Virgin Media O2, emphasized the risks posed by AI tools that enable fraudsters to generate realistic-looking fake numbers, potentially leading individuals to contact criminals instead of legitimate service providers.
Virgin Media O2 is actively taking measures to protect customers by blocking known scam numbers on the network and utilizing AI to flag over 1 billion suspicious calls to date. To combat scammers exploiting new avenues to target victims, the public is encouraged to report suspicious numbers to 7726 to facilitate faster shutdown of scams in the future.