O2 unveils big changes for mobile customers after blocking more than 89 million unreliable text messages

VIRGIN Media O2 has announced a major change for all mobile customers after blocking more than 89 million untrusted text messages.

A new partnership with Hiya, the leader in spam and fraud calls, will see AI-powered tools and enhanced caller ID services rolled out for free.

Adaptive AI blocks known fraudulent calls and gives customers more information about callers before they answer the phone.

The service will run alongside Virgin Media O2's existing fraud protection services.

And this includes firewall technology that stopped more than 89 million fraudulent text messages from reaching customers by 2023.

Hiya, a leader in voice security, uses adaptive AI to analyze phone number behavior to determine whether to flag a customer call as suspected spam or block fraud.

Virgin Media O2 will also roll out Hiya's advanced caller ID service, Hiya Connect, which allows businesses to add identity information to their calls with their company name, logo, call purpose and location.

This means that recipients immediately know who is calling and why.

This rollout is predicted to benefit businesses as their customers get greater peace of mind when receiving their calls.

And Virgin Media 02 makes it more likely that someone will respond.

Murray Mackenzie, director of fraud at Virgin Media O2, said: “In the fight against fraud, we want to roll out the latest technology to protect our customers.

“From AI tools to help us block fraudulent calls to services that help identify callers before a customer has even picked up the phone, our expanded partnership with Hiya allows us to continue to enhance our existing measures and provide customers with additional protection against spam. and fraudsters.”

And Kush Parikh, president of Hiya, said the company is “doing its part” to restore trust in voice calling.

He said: “We are proud to offer our spam and fraud solution and branded calling service to Virgin Media O2, a company renowned for its exceptional service across the UK.

“Carriers around the world are struggling with how to prevent phone spam and scams and protect the reputation of business customers. Hiya is doing its part to restore trust in voice calling by joining leaders like Virgin Media O2.”

Phone spam and fraud are persistent challenges for telecom providers around the world.

In the UK alone, according to the latest Hiya research, 28 percent of unknown calls were spam – and almost 10% of these were fraud calls.

With scammers constantly evolving their methods, Virgin Media O2 is urging all mobile customers to report suspicious text messages for free by forwarding them to 7726.

How to block 'no caller ID' calls on iPhone

It is important to note that unknown callers on iPhone can still leave a voicemail.

They also appear in your Recent list.

All this feature does is silence the calls so they don't appear for you.

Start by opening the Institutions app.

Find Telephone further down the list.

Tap on Silence unknown callers.

To turn on.

How to block 'no caller ID' calls on Android

On Android, start by going to the Telephone app.

Of the Keyboard tab, look for the three-dot menu in the top right corner.

Crane Institutions.

Then go to Block numbers.

Switch on Block calls from unknown numbers.