Brits are being warned to stay alert as fraudsters step up their tactics with fake gambling prizes, bogus job offers, and even fraudulent car finance compensation schemes.
Virgin Media O2 says it has already blocked more than 600 million scam text messages from reaching customers this year — more than double the number stopped in both 2023 and 2024 combined.
The latest scam trends
Analysis of reports and blocked messages throughout August highlights the top five scam text tactics right now:
- Gambling and fake prize scams: Fraudsters promise free credit, rewards or “gifts” with links to unsafe websites designed to steal banking details.
- “Hi Mum / Hi Dad” scams: Criminals impersonate children in distress, messaging parents from a new number and requesting urgent transfers of cash.
- Fake parking fines: Texts threaten heavy penalties or even loss of a driving licence unless immediate payment is made via a suspicious link.
- Recruitment scams: Fraudsters advertise lucrative but non-existent jobs, encouraging people to share personal information or pay fees.
- Car finance scams: Victims are told they’re entitled to compensation for mis-sold finance, often used as a hook to extract data or upfront payments.
How the scammers work
These scams often play on urgency or excitement, whether it’s the promise of a prize, a threat of legal action, or a too-good-to-be-true job. Once people click a link or hand over details, fraudsters can quickly use the information to steal money or commit identity fraud.
Virgin Media O2 urges customers to remain cautious about any text or call that arrives unexpectedly. Never click links, hand over personal details, or make payments unless you are certain the request is genuine.
Suspicious messages can be reported for free by forwarding them to 7726. Customers using certain devices, including newer iPhones, can also tap the ‘report junk’ feature that appears under texts from unknown numbers. By reporting messages, you help providers like O2 block numbers more quickly, strengthen scam detection technology, and prevent others from falling victim.
Fighting fraud together
Want to stay one step ahead of the scammers? Visit the Join the Claim campaign hub for straightforward guides on how to protect yourself from fraud and what to do if you’ve been targeted.
