Press Launch
VodafoneThree is trialling a brand new course of to assist the banking sector block scams
VodafoneThree has helped develop a proof of idea to assist banks sort out fraud and shield their prospects.
Created with Barclays, and in partnership with Cell Ecosystem Discussion board* and Cyber Defence Alliance, the proof of idea has since expanded to incorporate The Co-operative Financial institution, now a part of the Coventry Constructing Society, and TSB.
Since August 2025, greater than 2 million fraudulent messages have been blocked from reaching collaborating banks’ prospects. This marks an estimated 25% improve in blocked rip-off messages on VodafoneThree’s community.[1]As UK banks lose £1.17 billion a yr on account of fraud[2], this course of helps cease fraudulent SMS messages earlier than they attain banking prospects, whereas making certain professional messages nonetheless get by means of.
Constructing on the success of VodafoneThree’s current rip-off prevention instruments, which blocked 139+ million fraudulent SMS in 2025 alone, the method sees VodafoneThree working intently with banks to construct bespoke guidelines to the prevailing SMS firewall. This intelligence can differentiate between fraudulent SMS content material and bonafide communications from banks to their prospects.
Current malicious SMS messages give attention to impersonating banks and asking prospects to share their private or monetary data urgently by way of rip-off cellphone numbers or phishing hyperlinks included within the messages.
Rachel Andrews, Director of Company Safety and Fraud, VodafoneThree, mentioned: “Stopping fraud on our community and defending belief within the UK’s digital economic system is a big precedence. With fraud now accounting for 44% of all crime[3], no single organisation can sort out it alone. We’re working intently with banks, authorities, legislation enforcement, and business companions to remain forward, evolving our capabilities as rapidly as fraudsters change their techniques. What’s clear is that we have to innovate as properly, scaling new options like that is essential in making the UK one of many hardest locations on this planet for fraudsters to function.”
Nick Gliddon, Enterprise Director, VodafoneThree, mentioned: “Banks sit on the frontline of the UK’s battle towards fraud, and their position has by no means been extra important. Collectively, we’re main the way in which by stepping up our work with banks to strengthen protections and speed up new options. And we’re difficult companions throughout the sector to match that ambition by working with us to lift the bar and higher shield prospects at scale.”
Paul Davis, Head of Financial Crime, Barclays, mentioned: “Defending our prospects’ cash and information is our highest precedence. With experiences of APP scams originating by way of SMS rising by round 40% in 2025 in contrast with 2024, it’s important that we proceed to work collectively to remain forward of latest threats. By sharing intelligence throughout banks, telecoms suppliers and business our bodies, we will help cease suspicious messages earlier than they attain prospects, whereas making certain our prospects nonetheless obtain real messages from us. VodafoneThree’s work is a robust instance of how collective motion will help sort out fraud at supply and higher shield shoppers.”
Garry Lilburn, Operations Director, Cyber Defence Alliance, mentioned: “On the CDA, we search to carry our banking members, Telecommunication, Legislation Enforcement and Tech companions collectively to drawback clear up on cross-sector issues. This undertaking, initiated at such a cross-sector assembly, with MEF, Vodafone Three and Barclays financial institution, is a wonderful instance of cross-sector collaboration. Working with MEF, collectively, we’ll scale this undertaking and its success to guard a wider variety of banking and telecom prospects.”
Dario Betti, CEO, Cell Ecosystem Discussion board, mentioned: “For a few years, MEF has been on the forefront of the battle towards smishing, constantly evolving our technique to preserve tempo with the altering techniques utilized by fraudsters. We’re very happy to have supported VodafoneThree on this profitable initiative, which reveals what could be achieved when business companions work collectively in a sensible and focused strategy to sort out fraud. The outcomes are important, and we sit up for seeing this method adopted extra broadly throughout the business.”
Chris Grey, CISO, The Co-operative Financial institution, mentioned: “Our prospects’ security is our high precedence. Alongside our Cyber Fraud Fusion Cell – the place we carry collectively experience to identify and cease scams quick – this initiative helps sort out fraud at supply. By partnering throughout sectors to dam fraudulent messages earlier than they attain prospects, collectively, we’re strengthening on a regular basis banking safety and protecting individuals’s cash secure.”
George Hulland, Fraud Prevention Supervisor, TSB, mentioned: “For too lengthy, UK households have misplaced life-changing sums to merciless fraudsters posing as their financial institution, so this much-needed intervention with Vodafone ought to assist lower scams off at supply. Fraud can solely be tackled with completely different companies coming collectively, and this can be a nice instance of cross-sector collaboration to guard shoppers. Banks won’t ever ask you for private data, or to switch cash to them – so if you happen to’re ever requested, dangle up, it’s fraud.”
VodafoneThree urges prospects and members of the general public to stay vigilant and report any suspicious messages or voice calls to our devoted 7726 SPAM reporting hyperlink, both by clicking on the SPAM icon or forwarding to 7726 at no additional value. This priceless intelligence is then shared with different cell community suppliers and anti-scam organisations, serving to to guard prospects.
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