In recent years, Three UK has made significant strides in the fight against spam texts, blocking more than 173 million of them in the past two years. This equates to approximately 10,000 texts every hour, showcasing the vast scale of the problem. By integrating blocking technology from Mavenir into its network in 2019, Three has been able to prevent many malicious messages from reaching its customers.
According to Ofcom, eight out of ten people experienced some form of phone scam during summer 2023, highlighting the prevalence of these fraudulent activities. As scammers continue to adapt their methods, Three’s use of AI through Mavenir helps automatically filter and detect messages. Although not every message is blocked due to fraudsters constantly changing their tactics, over 72,000 calls have been reported to the free spam-reporting service, 7726.
In addition to blocking spam texts and calls, Three UK has also taken proactive measures to protect its customers by sending out millions of messages and alerts warning them about the latest scams and providing tips on how to safeguard themselves. One-click SPAM reporting has been introduced for Android devices, making it easier for customers to report spam and enhance their protection.
Darren Purkis, Chief Financial Officer at Three UK, emphasized the importance of staying vigilant in the battle against fraud. The company recognizes that it must continually invest in both people and technology in order to combat the ever-changing tactics of online criminals. Despite facing challenges posed by scammers’ sophistication, Three remains committed to protecting its customers and fighting against online fraud.
