Virgin Media O2 has published its anti-scam achievements. Its mobile network has cumulatively blocked more than 1 billion scam text messages, and the intercepted volume exceeded 600 million in 2025 alone. The operator built a multi-layer protection system relying on technical analysis, user reporting, industry collaboration and public education. Meanwhile, it called on the UK government to increase investment in anti-scam law enforcement resources and refine the national anti-fraud governance structure.
The carrier leverages threat detection technology to intercept malicious messages and analyses suspicious SMS reported by users via the shortcode 7726 to continuously refine its scam recognition models. It also launched a free AI call screening service that flags over 50 million suspicious scam calls monthly. The company takes part in Stop Scams UK, a cross-industry initiative, sharing risk data with telecoms, banks and tech firms. It also runs the “Swerve the Scammers” public campaign and offline “Scam School” training sessions to teach anti-fraud knowledge to digitally vulnerable groups.
Murray Mackenzie, Director of Anti-Fraud at the operator, commented that the 1 billion blocked messages demonstrate the large scale of organised telecom crime gangs. Fraud accounts for over 40% of all reported crimes in the UK, yet police resources are fragmented and prosecution rates remain low. The operator urges the government to make fraud a national strategic priority, establish a unified national anti-fraud enforcement body and strengthen investigation capacity for cross-border scam cases.
