Mobile operator Three Ireland has revealed that it blocked more than 26 million suspected scam calls and intercepted over 455,000 fraudulent text messages during 2025, highlighting the growing scale of telecom-related fraud targeting consumers.
The company said its fraud prevention efforts have continued into 2026, with more than 4 million scam calls blocked and over 650,000 fraudulent SMS messages intercepted so far this year.
According to Three Ireland, the figures reflect a wider challenge facing the telecommunications industry as fraudsters continue to develop new methods to target mobile users through phone calls and text messages. The operator warned that scammers are increasingly relying on sophisticated tactics designed to trick people into revealing personal and financial information.
The company noted that fraud activity often increases during the summer months, prompting a renewed warning to customers to remain alert to suspicious communications.
One of the busiest days recorded this year was Friday, 8 May, when Three blocked more than 27,000 scam calls on its network. On the same day, over 5,000 additional calls were identified as suspicious and flagged to customers with a “possible scam” warning.
Three said the nature of fraud attempts is changing, with criminals increasingly turning to call-based scams and social engineering techniques. These schemes typically involve fraudsters posing as trusted organisations, financial institutions or service providers in an attempt to persuade victims to share sensitive information during live conversations.
Industry experts have warned that such scams can be particularly effective because they create a sense of urgency, often encouraging victims to act quickly without verifying the legitimacy of the caller. Fraudsters may request banking details, passwords or one-time verification codes that can be used to gain access to personal accounts.
Tom Kinsella, Chief Consumer Officer at Three Ireland, said the company continues to invest in measures aimed at protecting customers from fraudulent activity.
“While we intercept large volumes of suspicious activity, vigilance remains key,” Kinsella said.
He urged customers to exercise caution when receiving unexpected calls or text messages and stressed that personal information should never be shared without verification.
“Customers should always be cautious of unexpected calls or messages and never share personal or account information, including one-time security codes,” he said.
Three Ireland said its monitoring systems are designed to identify and block suspicious activity before it reaches customers, but added that public awareness remains an important line of defence against increasingly sophisticated scams.
The operator encouraged customers who receive suspicious messages or calls to report them and remain cautious when dealing with unsolicited communications.
