VodafoneThree Blocks 2 Million Scam SMS Messages with Barclays
VodafoneThree, a UK-based mobile network, has blocked over 2 million fraudulent SMS messages since August 2025 in collaboration with Barclays and other banks. The new security process uses shared intelligence to improve detection accuracy and prevent scam texts from reaching customers. This marks a 25% increase in blocked banking scam messages, with 139 million total fraudulent SMS messages blocked across the network in 2025.
Key points
- VodafoneThree, a UK-based mobile network, collaborated with Barclays and other banks to block over 2 million fraudulent SMS messages since August 2025.
- The new security process uses shared intelligence to improve detection accuracy and prevent scam texts from reaching customers, resulting in a 25% increase in blocked banking scam messages.
- The solution adds bank-specific detection rules to VodafoneThree's existing SMS firewall, making it cheaper and highly effective for participating banks.
- VodafoneThree blocked 139 million fraudulent SMS messages across its entire network in 2025, highlighting a growing problem.
- Barclays noted a 40% year-over-year increase in APP scams from SMS attacks in 2025, emphasizing the need for continued collaboration to combat cyber threats.
VodafoneThree, a UK-based mobile network, has made significant strides in combating cyber threats with its new security process. In collaboration with Barclays and other banks, the network has blocked over 2 million fraudulent SMS messages since August 2025. This marks a 25% increase in blocked banking scam messages, with 139 million total fraudulent SMS messages blocked across the network in 2025.
The new security process uses shared intelligence to improve detection accuracy and prevent scam texts from reaching customers. By adding bank-specific detection rules to VodafoneThree's existing SMS firewall, the solution makes it cheaper and highly effective for participating banks.
The growing problem of cyber threats is evident in Barclays' note of a 40% year-over-year increase in APP scams from SMS attacks in 2025. This highlights the need for continued collaboration between banks, government, and mobile networks to combat cyber threats.
As the trial expands across The Co-operative Bank and TSB, VodafoneThree and participating banks can block even more scam texts. This collaborative effort demonstrates the potential for shared intelligence to improve detection accuracy and prevent cyber threats.
Sources
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