An urgent warning has been issued to millions of iPhone and Android users by O2, advising them to remain vigilant following the discovery of a concerning new scam targeting UK consumers.
The deceptive message being circulated to devices falsely claims that customers’ SIM cards are on the verge of deactivation due to their alleged failure to accept updated Terms and Conditions. This scam is particularly persuasive as it employs urgent language, such as “IMPORTANT” and “NOT,” and appears to originate from an official O2 number, making it harder to discern as fraudulent.
For individuals with an O2 SIM card, it is crucial to be wary of the following message: “O2UK: IMPORTANT: Your SIM Card(s) will be inactive on 04/06/2026, because you have NOT signed our Terms and Conditions. Logon to sign.”
In addition to the deactivation threat, the message contains a link that redirects victims to a counterfeit website aimed at extracting personal information. Once scammers acquire these details, they may try to access MyO2 accounts and exploit stolen passwords to breach other online accounts.
Customers who receive notifications stating their O2 SIM is about to expire should refrain from clicking on any links. Instead, they should access their accounts via the official O2 website or app, or contact the network directly to verify the message’s authenticity.
Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud Prevention at Virgin Media O2, cautioned that scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, employing convincing tactics to target victims and create authentic-looking fake websites.
Virgin Media O2 is actively taking measures to assist individuals in avoiding scams, including blocking scam texts and malicious websites and enhancing fraud monitoring on online accounts. Reporting suspicious messages to 7726 enables prompt action to shut down scams at the source, emphasizing the importance of community involvement in identifying and thwarting scams.
O2 has shared the following advice to help customers safeguard themselves:
– O2 will never send texts requesting customers to accept new Terms and Conditions or threatening SIM deactivation. Such messages are fraudulent.
– Exercise caution with messages using urgent or threatening language designed to induce hasty actions.
– Be wary of unexpected messages from unknown numbers. Legitimate O2 messages typically display under a verified “O2” sender name rather than a standard mobile number.
– Refrain from clicking on links in unexpected texts. Instead, directly access the MyO2 app or dial 202 from an O2 phone to verify the legitimacy of a request.
– If you have clicked on a suspicious link and entered your login credentials, immediately change your password to safeguard your account.
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