EE launches Scam Guard against nuisance calls, dark web hackers and phishing scams

• EE is launching Scam Guard – a subscription service that offers customers three robust ways to fight fraud from £1 a month to protect users from falling victim to scams
• Research shows that 40% of crimes committed across the UK are fraud based, Scam Guard helps consumers take control by staying one step ahead of scammers
• The launch of Scam Guard signifies EE’s ongoing commitment to protect customers from the millions of scams attempted each year and combat fraudsters

EE has unveiled its UK first scam fighting service, Scam Guard, which aims to provide customers with robust protection against scams and online threats. It is designed to protect customers' calls, data, and online activity through spam and scam call labelling, dark web monitoring, and access to free Cyber Security Duo for three months. As of today, the scam stopping service is available to all EE pay monthly mobile customers, as a subscription from £1 a month.

Research has shown that 40% of crimes committed across the UK are fraud based and almost all phone users (96%) are affected by nuisance calls on a regular basis. A recent study from Hiya found that 16% of UK consumers reported losing money to a phone scam in the last year, with those who were scammed losing £632 on average. All generations are being targeted as fraud can happen to anyone, so consequently, people are encouraged to constantly stay on high alert.

EE is a nationwide leader in the fight against scams; every month, it blocks around fifteen million suspicious calls and texts before they can reach the intended victim. EE has blocked more than 84 million scam attempts in the first six months of 2024, twice the number in the comparable period of 2023.

Scam Guard provides a network level defence to protect your calls, data and online activity, with features including; spam and scam call labelling, dark web monitoring, providing monthly reports and breach alerts and access to three months of free Cyber Security Duo, covering identity and device protection.

• Spam and Scam Call Labelling: Uses an Adaptive AI (Artificial Intelligence) system, powered by Hiya, that analyses every aspect of a call in real-time to detect and notify customers of suspicious calls.
• Dark Web Monitoring: Alerts you if your personal information, like bank card details and email login info, appears on the dark web, providing breach details and tips for securing your info.
• Three Months Free Cyber Security Duo: Offers real-time protection for up to two devices against viruses, malware, online threats and provides tools for stronger password creation and social media security. Identification of unsafe texts with links, personal information monitoring on the dark web and protection of social media accounts are also accounted for. The service includes access to three months of free Cyber Security Duo powered by Norton, who on average block nearly a quarter of a million attacks every day across the UK.

It has been revealed by Norton that 72% of UK adults don’t understand how the dark web works, and 40% have never heard of a dark web monitoring service to see if their personal information is on the dark web. Scam Guard aims to not only educate but eliminate the stress, so that users can both better understand the technology they are using and be safe while using it.

Helen Burrows, Policy Director for BT said: “We have always prioritised the protection of our customers and our investment in Scam Guard is something we are all incredibly proud of. We truly believe it will make a significant contribution to the prevention of scams and fraudsters.”

“EE was a founding member of Stop Scams UK, and part of a cross-industry alliance to share intelligence on scams. We also employ security experts and network-level security to safeguard our network and customers from cyber-attacks. This is something we take seriously, and while we already block an impressive number of scams, there is always more that we can do. Scam Guard covers all bases so customers can feel safer on our network.”

Scam Guard is now available to all EE pay monthly mobile customers and will be available to purchase as an add on. Dark Web Monitoring and access to free Cyber Security Duo for three months can only be activated by the account holder. For more information go to  https://ee.co.uk/security/scam-guard.