Millions of O2 customers are being urged to keep an eye out for a new alert on their phones.
O2 has introduced a cutting-edge AI-powered tool designed to combat the rising threat of phone scams. Call Defence, powered by Hiya, will analyse incoming calls in real-time, flagging suspicious activity and alerting users to potential fraudsters.
Why is this important?
Phone scams have become increasingly sophisticated, with fraudsters often impersonating banks, utility companies, or government agencies. Last year alone, 16% of Brits fell victim to these scams, losing an average of £798 each.
How does it work?
When a potentially fraudulent call is detected, a notification will appear on your phone screen. This will provide you with crucial information about the caller, helping you make informed decisions and avoid falling victim to scams.
Who can benefit?
O2 is the first UK mobile operator to offer this service to its customers at no additional cost. The feature will be available to both Android and iPhone users running iOS 18 or later.
What does O2 say?
Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud at Virgin Media O2, emphasised the importance of this new tool:
"Our AI-powered scam and spam call detection tool is the latest layer of defence we’re rolling out to help protect our customers from fraudsters. We’re the first and only UK provider to give customers this innovative new tool for free."
By staying vigilant and using tools like Call Defence, O2 customers can significantly reduce their risk of falling victim to phone scams.
Source: The Sun (28 Nov 2024)
