Britons are being cautioned to remain alert as a surge in sophisticated scams targets phones, computers, and tablets nationwide. Cyber fraud is on the rise, with the potential of personal data theft and financial loss to online scammers.
Virgin Media O2’s latest Scam Index revealed that approximately 18 million UK adults have been targeted by scammers in the last three months. June 2026 saw a peak in suspicious calls detected by the network, prompting a renewed warning for the public to stay vigilant.
Common scams include fake parcel delivery notifications, online shopping fraud, account suspension alerts, and banking scams. Scammers are also employing tactics such as bogus tech support calls, fake lottery win messages, and HMRC scams to deceive victims into divulging sensitive information or falling for malicious links.
A concerning trend is the rise of the “friends and family” impersonation scam, where fraudsters pretend to be known individuals to request urgent financial assistance. Virgin Media O2 advises against sharing personal information or sending money to unknown contacts without verifying their identity first.
Scammers are using authentic-looking websites, realistic messages, and a sense of urgency to manipulate victims into disclosing sensitive details or clicking on harmful links. Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud Prevention at Virgin Media O2, emphasized the evolving nature of fraud and its detrimental impact on victims.
Virgin Media O2 has taken proactive measures to combat scams, including blocking millions of fraudulent attempts. The public is encouraged to report suspicious texts and calls by forwarding them to 7726, a free reporting service available on all UK mobile networks. These reports assist in analyzing scam activity, identifying new fraud patterns, investigating malicious numbers, and enhancing blocking systems to safeguard against future attacks.