'No single organisation can tackle it alone': VodafoneThree says its new security process blocked two million SMS fraud messages

• VodafoneThree blocks 25% more banking fraud messages since August 2025
• Barclays collaboration leverages shared intelligence
• More banks to 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 scam texts from reaching customers of banks that participate in its scheme.

Initially a collaborative effort between the network provider, Barclays, the Mobile Ecosystem Forum and the Cyber Defence Alliance, the trial is also set to expand across The Co-operative Bank and TSB.

According to the recently conglomerated mobile network, the trial delivered a healthy 25% increase in the number of banking scam messages that were blocked.

VodafoneThree and participating banks can block even more scam texts

The solution adds bank-specific detection rules to VodafoneThree's existing SMS firewall to improve detection accuracy and to ensure that legitimate messages make it to customers. Rather than introducing a whole 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 entire network during 2025, indicating a growing problem. Barclays also noted that APP scams from SMS attacks rose around 40% year-over-year in 2025.

"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," Director of Corporate Security and Fraud Rachel Andrews said.

At the moment, fraud accounts for nearly 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 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," added Paul Davis, Head of Economic Crime, Barclays.

“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.”