Virgin Media O2 is warning customers to “be vigilant” of a harmful energy bill grant scam rising in the UK.

The fake ‘ECO4’ energy efficiency grant text messages sent by scammers are fraudulently using the Government energy efficiency scheme and other energy bill support programmes as a ploy to trick customers into handing over personal data or payment details.

They are now the fourth most common texts reported and blocked on Virgin Media O2’s mobile network.

Murray Mackenzie,…