- VodafoneThree blocks 25% more bank fraud messages from August 2025
- Barclays collaboration leverages shared intelligence
- More banks will be added later
VodafoneThree says it has blocked more than two million fraudulent banking SMS messages since August 2025 using a new proof of concept to prevent fraudulent text messages from reaching customers of banks participating in its scheme.
Initially a collaborative effort between network provider Barclays, the Mobile Ecosystem Forum and the Cyber Defense Alliance, the trial will also expand to The Co-operative Bank and TSB.
According to the newly conglomerated mobile network, the test generated a healthy 25% increase in the number of banking scam messages that were blocked.
VodafoneThree and participating banks can block even more fraudulent text messages
The solution adds bank-specific detection rules to VodafoneThree’s existing SMS firewall to improve detection accuracy and ensure legitimate messages reach customers. Rather than introducing an entirely new system, this collaborative upgrade makes it cheaper and highly effective for participating banks by using existing shared intelligence.
Banking aside, VodafoneThree says it blocked more than 139 million fraudulent SMS messages across its network during 2025, indicating a growing problem. Barclays also noted that app scams via SMS attacks increased by around 40% year-on-year in 2025.
“We are working closely with banks, governments, law enforcement and industry partners to stay ahead, evolving our capabilities as quickly as fraudsters change their tactics,” said Director of Corporate Security and Fraud Rachel Andrews.
At the moment, fraud accounts for almost half (44%) of all crime in the UK, but with so many groups and attackers, attack vectors and other variables, VodafoneThree says a more collaborative approach is needed.
“Protecting our customers’ money and data is our top priority. With reports of app scams originating via SMS increasing by around 40% in 2025 compared to 2024, it is essential that we continue to work together to stay ahead of new threats,” added Paul Davis, Head of Economic Crime at Barclays.
“By sharing intelligence between banks, telecoms providers and industry bodies, we can help stop suspicious messages before they reach customers, while ensuring our customers continue to receive genuine messages from us. VodafoneThree’s work is a clear example of how collective action can help tackle fraud at the source and better protect consumers.”
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