Virgin Media O2 is stepping up its fight against a new type of mobile scam capable of bypassing some of the protections normally provided by mobile networks.
They're known as SMS blasters, and Virgin Media O2 says it has been working with police, Ofcom and the wider mobile industry since 2024 to help disrupt the criminals using them.
What is Virgin Media O2 doing about SMS blasters?
Virgin Media O2 says tackling SMS blasters requires more than simply improving the filters running across its mobile network.
Because these devices are designed to bypass conventional network security, the company has been working alongside law enforcement, Ofcom and other mobile operators to help identify and disrupt the people using them.
In the second quarter of 2026 alone, Virgin Media O2 says it blocked 16.8 million suspicious text messages and flagged 259 million calls.
Those figures show just how much fraud is already being dealt with behind the scenes before many customers ever see it.
So what exactly is an SMS blaster?
Think of it as a rogue mobile mast
An SMS blaster uses specialist equipment capable of sending malicious text messages while bypassing some of the security normally provided by a mobile network.
Criminals can use the technology to send large numbers of messages to phones in a particular area.
One example highlighted by Virgin Media O2 involves fake delivery messages designed to persuade people to click a link and hand over personal information or payment-card details.
That presents mobile operators with a different challenge. A traditional scam text travelling through their network can potentially be identified and blocked before it reaches you.
An SMS blaster is designed specifically to work around that protection.
Police have already taken action
Virgin Media O2's work with the wider industry has coincided with a number of successful police investigations.
First known UK SMS blaster seizure
In May 2024, police arrested a man inside a van at the Trafford Centre in Manchester after the vehicle was linked to large numbers of fraudulent text messages being transmitted nearby.
Officers found an SMS blaster system concealed inside purpose-built compartments in the rear of the vehicle, alongside power equipment, Wi-Fi components and aerials installed into the van.
The City of London Police described the case as the first known UK law-enforcement seizure of SMS blaster equipment.
The operator was sentenced in August 2026 to three years and eight months in prison.
Virgin Media O2 also points to prosecutions in London over the past year, where five criminals involved in SMS blaster activity received combined prison sentences totalling more than 100 months.
Why Virgin Media O2 can't simply block every message
We often hear mobile operators talking about the millions of scam texts they block, so it's reasonable to wonder why the same systems can't stop an SMS blaster.
The important difference is how the message reaches your phone.
SMS blaster: attempts to bypass that normal route and transmit malicious messages directly to nearby phones.
That's why Virgin Media O2 says cooperation between mobile networks, regulators and police is particularly important when tackling these devices.
Ofcom is tightening the rules too
The action comes as Ofcom introduces stronger requirements around mobile messaging scams.
New rules announced in July 2026 are designed to make it harder for criminals to gain access to mobile messaging services and require providers to act when suspicious activity is discovered.
Ofcom says four in ten UK mobile users surveyed in 2026 had received at least one suspicious mobile message during the previous three months.
So although SMS blasters are a relatively unusual and sophisticated form of fraud, scam messaging in general remains a very common problem.
Virgin Media O2 wants customers to report scams
Technology and police investigations are only part of Virgin Media O2's approach.
The company is also encouraging people to report suspicious messages, because those reports can help mobile operators identify numbers used by scammers, spot new fraud trends and improve their blocking systems.
Forward the message to 7726. It's the UK's reporting service for suspicious mobile calls and texts and can be used regardless of which mobile network you're with.
What should you do if a suspicious text arrives?
The advice hasn't really changed just because the technology behind the scam has become more sophisticated.
- Don't click unexpected links in text messages.
- Don't reply with personal, payment or banking information.
- Be wary of urgency telling you that you need to act immediately.
- Check separately using the company's genuine app or website.
- Report suspicious messages to 7726 so your mobile provider can investigate.
Tech Blog Tip
If a message claims there's a problem with your parcel, bank account, mobile bill or another service, don't use the link inside the text to investigate it.
Open the company's official app or type its website address yourself. That gives you a separate route to check whether there's really a problem.
The fight against mobile scams is changing
There's a useful takeaway from Virgin Media O2's latest update: mobile operators aren't just dealing with the same old scam texts anymore.
As networks become better at stopping fraudulent messages, criminals are finding new ways of trying to get around those protections.
Virgin Media O2's response now combines traditional network blocking with AI, customer reporting and cooperation with police, Ofcom and other operators.
And while most of us will hopefully never come across an SMS blaster directly, the fact that UK police have now seized the equipment and secured convictions shows that the technology is very much being taken seriously.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Virgin Media O2 doing about SMS blasters?
Virgin Media O2 says it has been working with police, Ofcom and the wider mobile industry since 2024 to help identify and disrupt the use of SMS blaster technology in the UK.
What is an SMS blaster?
An SMS blaster is specialist equipment capable of bypassing conventional mobile network security and transmitting malicious text messages to nearby phones.
How many scam texts has Virgin Media O2 blocked?
Virgin Media O2 says it has blocked more than 1.4 billion fraudulent text messages to date.
How do I report a scam text?
Suspicious text messages can be forwarded to 7726. The service can be used by customers across UK mobile networks.
Virgin Media O2 has published more information about its work tackling SMS blasters on the Virgin Media O2 News Centre.
You can also read guidance about suspicious calls and messages on the Ofcom website.
