UK residents lost £11 billion to scams in 2024 – but NordVPN's call protection feature aims to fix that

NordVPN on mobile — (Image credit: Petter Lagson)

Millions of people are affected by scams every year, and despite the massive rise in AI-powered attacks, the old-fashioned scam phone call still remains a popular method of attack.

In 2024, UK residents lost approximately £11 billion to scams in 2024, with phone calls accounting for 60% of this figure – but one of the best VPNs is aiming to put a stop to this.

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What you'll get...

📱 All NordVPN Basic & Plus features
📞 Scam call protection
🔒 Class-leading encryption
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Scam detection and caller identification

Call protection was previously known as "scam call protection," but NordVPN said it wanted to move beyond just scam detection to include "more detailed caller identification."

You'll see information about incoming calls, including who they're from. If the call is potentially a scam, a warning will be displayed before you answer.

NordVPN's Call Protection feature warning an Android user about a scam call — (Image credit: NordVPN)

NordVPN says the feature utilises "a privacy-first approach." It analyzes call patterns and metadata to identify potential scams but doesn't view your personal conversations. The feature runs in the background, even when you're not connected to your VPN.

Future updates planned for the feature include user reporting. You'll have the ability to flag suspicious numbers, helping strengthen the scam database. Caller ID for legitimate numbers and enhanced call categories are also coming soon.

"Scam calls are a global problem that requires a global solution," said Domininkas Virbickas, product director at NordVPN. "By expanding call protection to the UK and Canada, we're taking another step toward our goal of making phone communication safer and more transparent for users worldwide. We want to give people the context they need to make informed decisions about every call."

With Black Friday 2025 a week away, shoppers should take even more care as it's the perfect opportunity for scammers to target you. Never give out your credit card details or personal information unless you're certain it's legit. If a deal is too good to be true, it probably is – even during Black Friday.

Cartoon image of person falling victim to phishing scam — (Image credit: NordVPN)

How to activate call protection

Only Android users in the US, UK, and Canada can activate call protection at present. NordVPN said it has plans to bring the feature to iPhone and more countries in the future.

To activate call protection, open your NordVPN app and head to the Threat Protection tab. Toggle the feature on and follow any Android settings prompts and permission requests. Once completed, call protection will be operational.

Disclaimer

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.