- VodafoneThree is trialling a new process to help the banking sector block scams.
- The mobile network operator (MNO)’s fraud specialists began trialling the proof of concept last year, working with Barclays and other fraud organisations to block fraudulent SMS but still allowing legitimate communications to reach customers.
- Since the trial began, over 2 million fraudulent SMS messages intended for customers of participating banks have been blocked.
- This marks an estimated 25% increase in blocked banking scam messages on VodafoneThree’s network.1
VodafoneThree has helped develop a proof of concept to help banks tackle fraud and protect their customers.
Created with Barclays, and in partnership with Mobile Ecosystem Forum* and Cyber Defence Alliance, the proof of concept has since expanded to include The Co-operative Bank, now part of the Coventry Building Society, and TSB.
Since August 2025, more than 2 million fraudulent messages have been blocked from reaching participating banks’ customers. This marks an additional increase of approximately 25% in blocked banking scam messages on VodafoneThree’s network.1
As UK banks lose £1.17 billion a year due to fraud, this process helps stop fraudulent SMS messages before they reach banking customers, while ensuring legitimate messages still get through.2
Building on the success of VodafoneThree’s existing scam prevention tools, which blocked 139+ million fraudulent SMS in 2025 alone, the process sees VodafoneThree working closely with banks to build bespoke rules to the existing SMS firewall. This intelligence can differentiate between fraudulent SMS content and legitimate communications from banks to their customers.
Recent malicious SMS messages focus on impersonating banks and asking customers to share their personal or financial information urgently via scam phone numbers or phishing links included in the messages.
Rachel Andrews, Director of Corporate Security and Fraud, VodafoneThree, said: “Preventing fraud on our network and protecting trust in the UK’s digital economy is a huge priority. With fraud now accounting for 44% of all crime, no single organisation can tackle it alone.3
“We’re working closely with banks, government, law enforcement, and industry partners to stay ahead, evolving our capabilities as quickly as fraudsters change their tactics. What’s clear is that we need to innovate as well, scaling new solutions like this is crucial in making the UK one of the toughest places in the world for fraudsters to operate.”
Nick Gliddon, Business Director, VodafoneThree, said: Banks sit at the frontline of the UK’s fight against fraud, and their role has never been more critical. Together, we’re leading the way by stepping up our work with banks to strengthen protections and accelerate new solutions.
“And we’re challenging partners across the sector to match that ambition by working with us to raise the bar and better protect customers at scale.”
Paul Davis, Head of Economic Crime, Barclays, said: “Protecting our customers’ money and data is our highest priority. With reports of APP scams originating via SMS increasing by around 40% in 2025 compared with 2024, it is essential that we continue to work together to stay ahead of new threats.
“By sharing intelligence across banks, telecoms providers and industry bodies, we can help stop suspicious messages before they reach customers, while ensuring our customers still receive genuine messages from us. VodafoneThree’s work is a strong example of how collective action can help tackle fraud at source and better protect consumers.”
Garry Lilburn, Operations Director, Cyber Defence Alliance, said: “At the CDA, we seek to bring our banking members, Telecommunication, Law Enforcement and Tech partners together to problem solve on cross-sector problems.
“This project, initiated at such a cross-sector meeting, with MEF, Vodafone Three and Barclays bank, is an excellent example of cross-sector collaboration. Working with MEF, collectively, we will scale this project and its success to protect a wider number of banking and telecom customers.”
Dario Betti, CEO, Mobile Ecosystem Forum, said: “For many years, MEF has been at the forefront of the fight against smishing, continuously evolving our strategy to keep pace with the changing tactics used by fraudsters.
“We are very pleased to have supported VodafoneThree in this successful initiative, which shows what can be achieved when industry partners work together in a practical and targeted way to tackle fraud. The results are significant, and we look forward to seeing this approach adopted more broadly across the industry.”
Chris Gray, CISO, The Co-operative Bank, said: “Our customers’ safety is our top priority. Alongside our Cyber Fraud Fusion Cell – where we bring together expertise to spot and stop scams fast – this initiative helps tackle fraud at source. By partnering across sectors to block fraudulent messages before they reach customers, together, we’re strengthening everyday banking security and keeping people’s money safe.”
George Hulland, Fraud Prevention Manager, TSB, said: “For too long, UK households have lost life-changing sums to cruel fraudsters posing as their bank, so this much-needed intervention with Vodafone should help cut scams off at source.
“Fraud can only be tackled with different businesses coming together, and this is a great example of cross-sector collaboration to protect consumers. Banks will never ask you for personal information, or to transfer money to them – so if you’re ever asked, hang up, it’s fraud.”
VodafoneThree urges customers and members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious messages or voice calls to our dedicated 7726 SPAM reporting link, either by clicking on the SPAM icon or forwarding to 7726 at no extra cost. This valuable intelligence is then shared with other mobile network providers and anti-scam organisations, helping to protect customers.
-Ends-
1 Estimate percentage based on 7726 report volumes from the date the POC went live to current date.
2 Annual Fraud Report 2025, UK Finance.
3 Fraud Strategy 2026, UK Government (March 2026).
Notes to Editors:
* MEF has acted as secretariat and operations support for the initiative, supporting collaboration between Barclays and VodafoneThree. The work draws on MEF’s experience in addressing messaging fraud, including through the Sender ID Registry, and reflects a broader industry effort to strengthen customer protection.
About Cyber Defence Alliance (CDA)
The CDA is a shared operational capability that supports a close alliance of financial institutions deliver individual and collective cyber defence, cyber security, cyber resilience and digital fraud. The Alliance works with governments, law enforcement, intelligence and security agencies and telecommunications operators to advance a safer digital future.
Through sharing resources, expertise and intelligence, the CDA works to reduce threats and the impact of cyber‑attacks, counter cyber threat actors and networks, strengthen cyber security and resilience, and deliver timely and accurate insights into new and emerging threats, with a strong focus on protecting the public. Established in the UK in 2015 as a not‑for‑profit organisation by a coalition of four international banks with law enforcement support, the CDA has grown steadily and is entirely member‑owned and driven, with a team of permanent staff and member secondees headquartered in Canary Wharf, London. Learn more at: cyberdefencealliance.org or contact us via contact@cyberdefencealliance.org
