O2 users told 'dial 4 digit code' if they get message in Friday update

O2 is today (Friday) warning of a new phishing scam in which fraudsters pose as the telecoms company and claim customers’ SIM cards are about to expire. As part of the scam, Brits are directed to a fake O2 site – where they’re asked to ‘login’ to accept new terms and conditions. The scam aims to get hold of customers’ legitimate login details so fraudsters can take over their MyO2 account.

The site may appear to be legitimate but is designed to steal customers’ usernames and passwords. O2 currently has approximately 22.4 million subscribers in the UK, making it the second-largest mobile network provider behind the Vodafone-Three combined network.

The operator said an example message is: " 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. "

O2 has already blocked over 1 billion scam messages from reaching customers to date, including thousands of messages linked to this latest scam. The telecoms company has also taken action to block customers from visiting known fraudulent URLs on both the O2 and Virgin Media networks.

However, with scammers constantly evolving their tactics and creating new websites and messages to target victims, O2 is calling on Brits to remain vigilant when it comes to unexpected calls and texts.

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It’s also asking people on all networks to report suspected scams to 7726 . These reports are used by the telecoms company to investigate and block mobile numbers used by fraudsters, so help refine its blocking services. This makes it easier to identify new trends and block messages faster.

This latest warning comes as Virgin Media O2 and StopScamsUK, alongside BT/EE and VodafoneThree, met with the Minister for Fraud Lord Hanson of Flint and parliamentarians to discuss how continued collaboration can help to tackle fraud and protect consumers.

Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud Prevention at Virgin Media O2, said: “Scammers are becoming more sophisticated, using increasingly believable and urgent requests to target victims alongside convincing fake websites, demonstrating just how clever their tactics can be.”

“At Virgin Media O2, we’re doing all we can to help Brits swerve the scammers, from blocking scam texts and malicious websites to rolling out enhanced fraud monitoring on online accounts. Every report to 7726 helps us act faster to shut down scams at source, so we’re urging everyone to play their part and forward suspicious messages.”

The company has outlined its advice for customers:

1. O2 is not contacting any customers via text asking them to sign updated Terms and Conditions or face their SIM being deactivated – messages like this are a scam
2. Be wary of threatening or urgent language designed to pressure you into acting quickly
3. If you receive any messages from a number you don’t recognise, be cautious as it could be a scam. On many popular smartphones, genuine messages from O2 will appear under a verified ‘O2’ contact rather than a standard mobile number.
4. Never click a link in an unexpected message. Instead, go directly to the MyO2 app or call 202 on an O2 device to check if what you’re being asked to do is legitimate
5. Report suspicious messages to 7726
6. If you think you may have clicked on a suspicious link and entered your login details, change your password immediately.

Stop! Think Fraud!

Brits can find out more about how to protect themselves from scams and stay one step ahead of fraud at Stop Think Fraud – the UK Government’s national awareness campaign.