Virgin Media O2 is urging all UK customers to stay vigilant when receiving text messages claiming they’ve won a gambling prize. So far this year, the company has blocked more than 600 million scam texts – twice as many as the total intercepted in both 2023 and 2024 combined.
Virgin Media Warns Customers of Gambling Scams
To help raise awareness of emerging scam techniques, the telecoms provider analyzed scam messages reported and blocked during August. Currently, the most frequently reported scams involve fake gambling or prize messages. These texts typically promise free credit on gambling sites or offer fake rewards and prizes, accompanied by a link to a malicious website. Victims are then tricked into sharing personal and banking details under the pretense of claiming their prize.
Murray Mackenzie, director of fraud prevention at Virgin Media O2, explained that scammers are constantly evolving their tactics, often exploiting current news trends and preying on vulnerable individuals with fake prize offers, job scams, and bogus financial compensation schemes. He noted that Virgin Media O2 has already blocked over 600 million scam texts this year as part of its efforts to protect customers. By analyzing these threats and raising awareness, the company aims to keep the public informed about emerging scams and help people avoid falling victim.
Customers can play a vital role in combating scams by reporting suspicious texts or calls for free to 7726, which is a number that spells “SPAM” on a phone keypad and works across all major networks. Those using certain devices, such as newer iPhones, can also tap the “Report Junk” option that appears at the bottom of messages from unknown senders.
Reporting these messages helps identify emerging scam trends more quickly and shut them down sooner. Any numbers flagged to Virgin Media O2 are blocked, while the reported messages are analyzed to improve the company’s scam detection tools. These tools, powered by machine learning, continuously adapt to recognize new patterns and prevent more fraudulent messages from reaching customers.
What Other Scams Has Virgin Warned Against?
While gambling-related scams are the most common scam messages that Virgin users have been receiving in recent times, there are also several other types that people have been getting. The second most common scam currently circulating is the “Hi Mum / Hi Dad” tactic, where fraudsters impersonate a distressed child contacting a parent from an unfamiliar number, eventually asking for money to be transferred. These tactics are often most effective on elderly people.
In third place are fake parking fine scams, where victims receive threatening messages claiming they face hefty fines or even the loss of their driving license unless they visit a suspicious website and make an immediate payment.
Other scams on the rise include fake job offers and car finance compensation schemes. In these cases, scammers pretend to recruit for high-paying roles that don’t exist or claim victims are owed compensation for car finance. In both instances, individuals are urged to share sensitive personal information and may be asked to pay upfront fees under false pretenses.