Britons are being cautioned to remain vigilant as a surge in sophisticated scams targets mobile phones, computers, and tablets across the United Kingdom.
According to experts at Virgin Media O2, cyber fraud is on the rise at an alarming rate, with the risk of personal data theft and financial losses to online scammers.
The telecom company’s latest Scam Index has confirmed that approximately 18 million UK adults have been targeted by scammers in the last three months alone. June 2026 saw a peak in suspicious calls detected by the network, prompting a fresh warning for the public to stay alert.
Common scams circulating currently include fake parcel delivery notifications, online shopping fraud, account suspension alerts, and banking scams. Criminals are also employing tactics like bogus tech support calls, fake lottery win messages, and HMRC scams to trick victims into sharing personal information or sending money.
A growing concern is the notorious “friends and family” impersonation scam, where fraudsters pretend to be someone known to the victim to request urgent financial assistance. Virgin Media O2 advises against sharing personal information or sending money to unfamiliar contacts without verifying their identity.
Scammers are increasingly using convincing websites, realistic messages, and creating a false sense of urgency to coerce victims into clicking on malicious links or divulging sensitive details.
Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud Prevention at Virgin Media O2, emphasized the evolving nature of fraud and its detrimental impact on victims. The company works tirelessly to protect customers by blocking scam texts, identifying suspicious calls, and implementing measures to combat scammers.
Virgin Media O2 urges the public to report suspicious texts and calls by forwarding them to 7726. This free reporting service, available on all UK mobile networks, assists in analyzing scam activity, detecting new fraud trends, investigating malicious numbers, and enhancing blocking systems to safeguard more individuals from future attacks.