EE upgrades 'triple-lock' scam protection for your phone at no extra cost, confirms terrifying new milestone
EE has bolstered its Scam Guard service, which shields users from fraudulent calls, viruses and malware, fake text messages, and will even send you a warning if your personal information is shared on the Dark Web.
The mobile network first launched these protections some two years ago, and confirmed that it's already blocked more than 169 million scam and spam attempts from British phone owners during that period. With the new protections added in the latest update, EE expects that figure to double.
With the latest update, EE has overhauled the entire system and added something called Artificial Intelligence (AI) Triple-Lock Protection, which is powered by the Genie AI engine from antivirus firm Norton. This system is always learning and will improve its safeguards based on the screenshots and links you check.
The trio of protections referenced in the Triple-Lock Protection title refers to:
- Safe Email: providing 24/7 proactive scam protection for email inboxes, scanning and flagging suspicious messages so customers know if something is a scam before they even open it
- Safe SMS: using advanced AI to detect sophisticated scams in text messages, giving customers real-time protection and peace of mind every time they check their messages
- Safe Web: harnessing AI to protect customers from scams while shopping or browsing online, blocking malicious sites before they cause harm
Alongside this, Call Labelling delivers automatic, network-level screening of every incoming call, giving EE users must-have information on the person on the other end of the line before they pick up.
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Rounding out the features in the new-and-improved Scam Guard service, EE bundles Social Media Monitoring and Dark Web Monitoring, which track suspicious activity across your online footprint, sending quick notifications if something seems off, so you can take action without delay.
Mobile Device Security provides real-time protection against ransomware, viruses and other online threats, automatically blocking dangerous attachments before they can cause damage.
Finally, EE's Password Manager creates, stores and auto-fills strong, secure passwords, removing one of the most common vulnerabilities in personal online security.
The latter comes as the National Cyber Security Centre – part of GCHQ — warned all Britons to ditch passwords and switch to an alternative to guarantee their safety online.
Announcing the new arrivals, EE Director of Product, Malcolm Cubitt, told GB News: "Fraud in the UK is at a record high, with AI making scams more convincing and harder to detect. As these threats evolve, we continue to adapt as the UK’s best network—constantly seeking new and innovative ways to protect and support our customers.
"This includes leading industry alliances, investing in network-level controls, and employing a dedicated team of security experts. And now with our newly enhanced Scam Guard service, we’re providing customers with an even greater level of cyber security protection."
EE bundles everything included in its Scam Guard suite to pay-monthly users for £2 on a 30-day rolling contract, so you can cancel any time. The new additions arrive at no extra cost.
O2 has previously launched a similar system, known as Brand ID, to safeguard its customers from fraudulent calls last month. While it lacks a slew of features included with EE Scam Guard, like proactive Dark Web monitoring, the dedicated password manager, and malicious link checkers, Virgin Media O2 offers its protection as a free upgrade for existing pay-monthly and SIM-only customers.
With its upgraded Scam Guard service, EE expects to prevent at least twice as many scams over the next 12 months. The boost to Scam Guard follows recent data showing 444,000 cases were recorded on the National Fraud Database in 2025, the highest ever in a single year, with the rise largely attributed to AI-powered fraud.
- Blocked 1.6 billion attempts to access malicious domains
- Stopped 200 million scam SMS messages
- Blocked 61 million scam calls
- Flagged a further 175 million nuisance and fraud calls to keep customers protected
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