How we’re working to keep Brits safe from SMS blasters

Fraud is the biggest crime facing the UK with millions of Brits targeted every day.

At Virgin Media O2, we believe in creating a trusted network our customers can rely on, and this includes doing everything we can to protect them from scammers who look to exploit it. We’ve blocked more than 1.4 billion fraudulent text messages to date and are using AI to flag tens of millions of calls every month.

However, as mobile operators like ourselves continue to use the latest technology to keep scams from reaching our customers’ phones, criminals inevitably look to adapt.

Since 2024, we’ve been working across the sector and with the police on a new challenge – SMS blasters.

What is an SMS blaster?

An SMS blaster uses sophisticated fraud technology capable of bypassing mobile network security to send out malicious SMS text messages.

Scammers often use them to send out thousands of fake delivery text messages, designed to trick individuals into handing over personal information or card details.

Faced with this new threat, we’ve acted quickly to step up for customers and support in the fight back by disrupting criminal networks.

Last week, thanks to a collaborative effort between law enforcement at the City of London Police, mobile operators and Ofcom, a man responsible for operating one of these devices in Manchester was sentenced to 3 years and 8 months in prison. This follows other successful prosecutions in London over the last year, with five criminals receiving sentences of more than 100 months behind bars.

These prosecutions and lengthy sentences, prove that by working collaboratively we can make sure criminals are brought to justice.

What can Brits do to stay safe?

With SMS blasters designed to bypass our own network security, it’s more important than ever for Brits to stay vigilant to unexpected messages. Whenever in doubt, never click a link and instead verify communications via a separate channel.

Everyone, regardless of which network provider they are with, can also play their part by reporting suspected scams to 7726.

These reports help us investigate and block mobile numbers, track down scammers more quickly, and refine our blocking services. This makes it easier to identify new trends and help Brits know what to look out for.