Britons are being cautioned to remain alert as a surge in sophisticated scams is targeting phones, computers, and tablets nationwide. Virgin Media O2 has highlighted the escalating trend of cyber fraud, warning that falling victim to these scams could result in personal data theft and financial losses to online scammers.

The telecom company’s latest Scam Index confirms that approximately 18 million adults in the UK have been targeted by scammers in the past three months alone. June 2026 saw a peak in suspicious calls, prompting a fresh advisory for the public to stay vigilant.

Common scams circulating currently include fake parcel delivery notifications, online shopping fraud, account suspension alerts, and banking scams, alongside bogus tech support calls, fake lottery win messages, and HMRC scams demanding money or promising tax refunds.

An emerging threat 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 sending money or sharing personal details with unknown contacts without verifying their identity.

Scammers are increasingly using convincing websites, realistic messages, and a sense of urgency to coerce victims into clicking malicious links or disclosing sensitive information.

Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud Prevention at Virgin Media O2, emphasized the evolving nature of fraud and its detrimental effects on victims. The company is actively working to safeguard customers by blocking scam texts, flagging suspicious calls, and combating scammers.

The new Scam Index aims to monitor threats and raise awareness of criminal tactics to help the public recognize warning signs in time. With June recording a peak in suspicious calls, individuals are advised to be on high alert.

Virgin Media O2 has already thwarted millions of scam attempts and encourages the public to report suspicious texts and calls by forwarding them to 7726. This reporting service, available on all UK mobile networks, aids in analyzing scam activities, identifying new fraud patterns, investigating malicious numbers, and enhancing blocking mechanisms to shield more people from future attacks.