Virgin Media O2 has sounded the alarms about a dangerous new scam that's landing in inboxes across the UK.
Fraudsters are sending fake emails that appear to be sent from the team at Virgin Media O2, claiming you need to upgrade to a brand-new 5G SIM card. These criminals are taking advantage of the company's recent 3G network closure to trick people into handing over their personal details.
The old 3G technology switch-off was completed at the beginning of the year, with customers being moved to faster 4G and 5G networks instead. While most O2 users won't actually see an impact from this change, crooks are still hoping to cash in on the confusion.
The 3G switch-off, agreed by the UK Government and all mobile networks as far back as 2021, has enabled providers like Virgin Media O2 to reallocate mobile spectrum to more efficient 4G and 5G services and improve customers’ experience with faster data speeds, more reliable streaming, and higher quality voice calls.
So unless you have a 3G-only handset in your pocket, the change promises to only be good news.
Virgin Media O2 is the last major mobile network to switch off its 3G network in a bid to use the extra spectrum to bolster 4G and 5G network speeds. For example, EE completed its move away from 3G in February 2024
| EE PRESS OFFICEBut cybercriminals are hoping to spark fear and panic. The dodgy email features official-style branding that could easily fool you into thinking it's genuine. When it drops into your inbox, the subject line reads "Alert: Switch to Your New 5G SIM for a Faster, Stronger Network."
Virgin Media O2 has confirmed they're not responsible for sending these emails. You shouldn't reply to them or click on any links they contain. The telecoms company is also urging customers to delete these emails straight away without engaging with them at all.
If you've received one, you can report it by forwarding the message to phishing@virginmediao2.co.uk.
In most cases, if you’ve purchased a phone in the last decade (the first 4G-compatible handsets arrived on the UK store shelves in 2012), you likely aren't affected by the big switchover
| VIRGIN MEDIA O2 PRESS OFFICEFraudsters are even taking the scam a step further and posting a fake SIM card to your home via courier. If you receive one of these bogus SIMs, you'll be asked to activate it using a four-digit PIN. This is all part of the scam to harvest your personal information.
The email also tells you to log into the O2 app using a password they've supplied. There's a blue "Contact Us" button included too, but clicking it won't connect you to Virgin Media O2's customer service team.
Instead, you'll be put through directly to the criminals themselves. They're hoping you'll trust them enough to share sensitive account details or personal data.
If these scammers succeed, they could gain access to your private Virgin Media O2 account or collect enough personal information to break into other online accounts you hold, such as your personal banking.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
The 3G shutdown has been happening across the UK for some time now, which is exactly why criminals see an opportunity. Virgin Media O2 has been gradually switching off the old network in areas like Durham, Norwich, Telford, Guildford, Torquay and Watford.
Other major providers, including EE, Vodafone and Three, have already completed their own 3G closures.
The shutdown of ageing 3G will free up radio spectrum to improve connectivity on 4G and 5G networks. In other words, the first thing you'll notice about the 3G shutdown is a more reliable 4G and 5G connection.
Virgin Media O2 has completed its 3G switch-off at the beginning of this year
| VIRGIN MEDIA O2 PRESS OFFICEHowever, those with a 3G-only mobile phone will notice the difference. While the introduction of 3G more than 20 years ago was a very big deal at the time — so much so that Three UK decided to name its entire brand on the faster mobile internet standard — today this ageing standard carries less than 3% of all network data, Virgin Media O2 revealed. And that percentage is only expected to fall.
Thankfully, in most cases, if you’ve purchased a phone in the last decade (the first 4G-compatible handsets arrived on the UK store shelves in 2012), you likely aren't affected by the big switchover.
However, if you or someone else happens to be affected, Virgin Media O2 is offering support to its older customers by partnering with non-profit Age UK.
Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, stated: “The 3G switch-off may feel daunting for many older people, so it’s important that we do all we can to support those affected."
You can call Age UK’s Advice Line for free on 0800 169 65 65 for assistance with the transition.
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