Britons are being cautioned to remain vigilant as a surge in sophisticated scams targets phones, computers, and tablets across the UK. Cyber fraud is on the rise, with potential consequences including personal data theft and financial losses to online scammers.
Virgin Media O2’s latest Scam Index indicates that approximately 18 million UK adults have been targeted by scammers in the past three months. June 2026 witnessed a spike in suspicious calls, prompting a renewed advisory for the public to stay vigilant.
Common scams currently in circulation involve fake parcel delivery notifications, online shopping fraud, account suspension alerts, and banking scams. Fraudsters are also employing tactics such as fake tech support calls, deceptive lottery win messages, and HMRC scams claiming owed money or tax refunds.
A concerning trend is the rise of the “friends and family” impersonation scam, where scammers pose as known contacts to solicit urgent financial aid. Virgin Media O2 advises against sharing personal information or sending money to unfamiliar numbers without proper verification.
Scammers are increasingly using convincing websites, authentic-looking messages, and a sense of urgency to coerce victims into clicking malicious links or divulging sensitive information.
Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud Prevention at Virgin Media O2, emphasized the evolving nature of fraud and its detrimental impact on victims. The company is actively working to safeguard customers by blocking scam texts, flagging suspicious calls, and combating fraudulent activities.
Virgin Media O2 has already thwarted millions of scam attempts and encourages the public to report suspicious texts and calls by forwarding them to 7726. This reporting service is available on all UK mobile networks and aids in analyzing scam patterns, identifying new fraud trends, investigating malicious numbers, and enhancing blocking mechanisms to shield individuals from future attacks.