The highly anticipated Black Friday 2025 sales extravaganza is set to kick off on Friday, November 28, offering a plethora of discounts for eager shoppers. However, amidst the excitement, consumers need to be wary of potential risks as cybercriminals often exploit this event to launch scams, particularly through deceptive text messages.
One significant threat to consumers is the prevalence of delivery scams, taking advantage of the surge in online shopping during this period. To address these concerns, O2 has issued a cautionary alert urging customers to remain vigilant to protect themselves.
Highlighting the risk, O2 pointed out that a substantial fraction of shoppers tend to forget their purchases until they are delivered, making them susceptible to falling for fake delivery notifications. Cybercriminals capitalize on this vulnerability to carry out their fraudulent schemes.
In response to the growing threats, Virgin Media O2 has implemented advanced AI and firewall technologies to combat scam calls and texts. The company reported successfully blocking millions of scam messages, including fake delivery alerts, this year.
For individuals concerned about falling victim to such scams, O2 has shared five essential tips to enhance their security measures:
1. Monitor and keep a record of your purchases to identify any discrepancies.
2. Exercise caution with suspicious links in messages, especially from unfamiliar sources or with irregular structures.
3. Be wary of urgent payment demands related to deliveries, as legitimate companies do not request immediate payments via text messages.
4. Verify the sender details, particularly if they appear unfamiliar or suspicious.
5. Exercise caution if messages lack specific details about your orders, as scammers often use generic content to deceive recipients.
Discussing the issue, James Harwood, Fraud Prevention Strategy Lead at Virgin Media O2, emphasized the importance of staying alert during the hectic shopping period to avoid falling prey to fraudsters. He encouraged individuals to report suspicious messages and not engage with potentially harmful links to safeguard their personal information and finances.
Select Daily Mirror as your ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News for immediate access to the latest news updates.
At Reach and across our entities , we and our partners utilize data collected through cookies and other identifiers to enhance user experience, analyze site usage, and deliver personalized advertisements. You can opt out of data sharing or selling at any time by clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button at the bottom of the page. Please note that preferences are specific to your browser. By using our website and services, you agree to the use of cookies as outlined in our <a data-testid="cipa