An urgent warning has been issued to millions of iPhone and Android users by O2, advising them to be cautious due to a new scam specifically targeting UK customers.
The fraudulent message being circulated informs recipients that their SIM cards are on the verge of deactivation as they allegedly failed to agree to updated Terms and Conditions. The scam employs urgent language like “IMPORTANT” and “NOT” and seems to originate from an official O2 number, making it harder to discern as a fake communication.
If you are an O2 SIM card holder, it is crucial to be vigilant. The deceptive message states, “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 warning, the message contains a link redirecting victims to a counterfeit website intended to harvest personal information. Once scammers acquire these details, they may try to infiltrate MyO2 accounts and exploit stolen passwords to access other online accounts.
Customers who receive notifications about their O2 SIM cards expiring should refrain from clicking any links. Instead, they should access their accounts via the official O2 website or app, or reach out to the network directly to verify the authenticity of the message.
Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud Prevention at Virgin Media O2, cautioned that scammers are enhancing their tactics with increased sophistication.
“At Virgin Media O2, we’re taking proactive measures to protect individuals from scammers, from blocking scam texts and malicious websites to implementing advanced fraud monitoring on online accounts. Every report to 7726 enables us to swiftly shut down scams, so we urge everyone to report suspicious messages,” Mackenzie emphasized.
O2 has also shared guidance 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 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 regular mobile number.
• Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited texts. Instead, directly access the MyO2 app or call 202 from an O2 phone to verify the legitimacy of a request.
• If you have inadvertently clicked on a suspicious link and provided your login details, promptly change your password to safeguard your account.