What O2 has rolled out
O2 has upgraded its AI-powered scam defences so suspected fraudulent calls are now blocked before they reach customers' phones. The move follows a successful trial earlier this autumn and is expected to stop more than three million malicious calls every week. O2 says it is the first UK mobile operator to block all calls it suspects of being scams rather than just warning users.
How the technology works
Powered by Hiya, the system uses real-time network data and customer reports to spot nuisance callers and continuously improves its detection. No app or action is needed from customers; the free service activates automatically on compatible devices. Suspected spam calls will still be flagged so people know why a number looks suspicious.
What the trial showed
During testing, 60% of blocked calls were followed by repeat attempts within a minute, and fraud-labelled numbers tried to call three times as often after being blocked. This suggests the blocks are already disrupting scammers' operations. O2 has also blocked calls from numbers on Ofcom’s Do Not Originate list for some time, but the new AI expands that protection significantly.
Why it matters
Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud Prevention at Virgin Media O2, said: “Picking up the phone shouldn’t feel like a gamble, with customers left second-guessing whether they can trust the person at the other end of the line. That’s why we’re stepping up our defences, evolving our AI scam call detection service from flagging to blocking fraudulent callers, stopping that first ring in real time. With over 3 million calls expected to be blocked each week, we’re helping keep more Brits safe from scams than ever before. But with scammers evolving too, everyone can play their part by reporting new numbers to 7726 so we can shut them down faster.”
O2 remains the only major UK provider offering this level of AI flagging and blocking without an added charge. You can compare current O2 deals and other networks on our mobile phones page.
