There are some eye-opening numbers in this month’s scam alert, as Virgin Media O2 says it has already blocked over 600 million scam texts so far in 2025, more than double the total stopped in 2023 and 2024 combined. Add in the continuing wave of pension and compensation scams, and it’s clear fraudsters are working overtime.
Here’s what to watch for — and how to stay one step ahead this September.
Scam texts surge: gambling “prizes”, fake fines and “Hi Mum/Hi Dad”
Virgin Media O2’s latest analysis shows a sharp rise in texts pushing gambling credit, “summer gifts” and prize links that lead straight to unsafe websites. The goal is simple: harvest your personal and banking details.
- Classic “Hi Mum/Hi Dad” messages are also back in force, with scammers pretending to be your child on a new number and asking for urgent transfers.
- Another common ploy is the fake parking fine, threatening big penalties or even licence trouble unless you pay immediately via a link.
- Recruitment lures and car finance compensation claims are climbing too — typically dangling high pay or redress and then asking for sensitive data or upfront fees (more on this coming up…)
If a message lands out of the blue, don’t click any links and don’t reply. Instead, forward it to 7726 (free on any network) or use ‘report junk’ on compatible devices. Reporting helps networks block numbers faster and improves their scam-detection tech.
Self Assessment season: HMRC impostors on the prowl
HMRC is warning that scammers are ramping up bogus refund offers and threatening calls as Self Assessment activity picks up. HMRC won’t ask for personal or financial details by text or email, won’t tell you about a refund by phone, and won’t leave voicemails threatening arrest or legal action. If you’re unsure about any contact, check the guidance on GOV.UK before doing anything else.
Pension fraud: still a major target
Action Fraud figures show pension fraud cost victims over £17.5 million in 2024 — roughly £48,000 lost every day. Two tactics dominate: high-pressure “can’t-miss” investments and account takeovers where criminals impersonate you to access your pension portal. To stay safe, keep your pension account locked down and treat all unsolicited approaches as suspicious.
Coinbase scam calls
Which? has warned about scam calls impersonating cryptocurrency platform Coinbase. Victims report being told their “API key” has been used by someone else — a ploy to keep them talking and extract personal data. If you get one of these calls, hang up.
Car finance scams
The headlines around mis-sold car finance continue to be exploited by fraudsters posing as lenders and offering “early compensation”. This scam relies on tricking you into sharing personal information or paying fees. Remember: if you didn’t seek it out, and especially if they ask for money upfront, it’s a scam. You can find out more about the car finance compensation scheme in our recent article.
Student finance phishing (“smishing”)
As student maintenance loans land and terms begin, fraudsters begin to text or email students about “payment issues” or “account verification” to harvest logins and bank details. The Student Loans Company issues annual September warnings about this pattern. The SLC will never ask students to provide or verify their personal or financial information via email or text message. Always access your account via trusted bookmarks—never links in messages
Stay one step ahead
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