SMS Scam

**Connie B** · 21 May 2009, 9:28 pm

Somehow my cell number was subscribed for an online contest and got 50 text messages at $5 each in a matter of a week.

I've just tough that someone was just spamming me and ignore all of those messages until I got the bill from my phone company who is charging $5 for each spam.

If you get a SMS message, call your phone company right away.

Connie

**pgaming** · 21 May 2009, 9:43 pm

Believe or not currently SMS spam is legal far as I know. A growing problem and some U.S Senators are trying desperate to include SMS in the CAN-SPAM Law.

greek39

**raphnix** · 22 May 2009, 1:09 am

Originally Posted by Connie B

Somehow my cell number was subscribed for an online contest and got 50 text messages at $5 each in a matter of a week.

I've just tough that someone was just spamming me and ignore all of those messages until I got the bill from my phone company who is charging $5 for each spam.

If you get a SMS message, call your phone company right away.

Connie

I thought it's illegal for cellphone network companies to promote/allow automatic subscription policy. Even though my phone's prepaid, I sometimes encounter such subscription and eat all my remaining balance.

**Renee** · 24 May 2009, 6:51 pm

I had this problem a little while ago and I'm not sure if it's the same where you are, but in Australia you call your phone company and ask for the name of the biller and their phone number. You then call them and tell them that you didn't subscribe and they have to send you out a cheque for the amount that you were billed.

Here they can't text spam you unless you have willingly subscribed.

**Chips** · 25 May 2009, 10:08 am

My fix was simple, I am old school and If I want to talk to someone, I push the buttons and their phone rings, they answer and we talk. I had my text message function turned off on my account. No way to get any text messages now.

Ok, you can call me a grumpy old man, but I can't stand making words out of a telephone keypad.

**AmCan** · 25 May 2009, 4:40 pm

One of the reasons i avoid facebook is that everything my friends are using require me to signup on a spam list.

earlier this week i got "challenged to an IQ test" by my sister (she likes to lose

) and as i was about to take the test i saw "Weekly SMS Message" and "$5" and read. So, if i install/take their IQ text they plan to bill be for a weekly spam message subscription. I doubt i'll ever try any new add on at facebook, for those very reasons.

Call me a grumpy old man, just not quite as grumpy as Chips, i can still do text messaging

My guess connie, is that those messages have something to do with facebook.

**Renee** · 25 May 2009, 6:57 pm

Quick question mate, with that quiz on facebook, did you then have to enter your mobile? Because for instance, I don't have my phone number listed on my facebook, so how would they be able to bill someone like me in that case?
Very strange.

**CK - Schalk** · 25 May 2009, 7:57 pm

These things are quite common here in Aus. I was amazed to see how many ads for this useless crap there was on TV, and on top of that, people must be using them a lot, because these ads are prime time, even on the satellite channels.

They catch people with some ridiculous offer (Text the name of you and your partner to 15671 to see if you are a love match), and then in the fine print, it says that you automatically subscribe to receive x amount of texts a week at $5 each, or something like that.

I can still not believe that people fall for this.

**Connie B** · 25 May 2009, 8:16 pm

Hi,

Thank you for all of your advices.

I've never subscribed to any online contest/quiz on facebook.

It all happened after I met a client at a coffee shop with wireless internet access.
I need it to provide my phone number for them to text me a pin number and able to get
internet access.

This is the only place I can think of that my phone number got subscribed for this type of Spam.

I've asked my phone provider to give me the name of the company who is charging me those $5 per spam. They said that can not provide that information.
I will be contacting them again this week and speak with a supervisor who has common sense.

Cheers,

Connie

**Connie B** · 25 May 2009, 8:21 pm

Hi Chips,

There are not too many choices for phone company providers in Canada.

This company has put together all of the additional services under one package
(Voice Mail - Call Display - Text Message). This is all included so I can not turn off
the text message option.

Cheers,

Connie Burstin

Originally Posted by Chips

My fix was simple, I am old school and If I want to talk to someone, I push the buttons and their phone rings, they answer and we talk. I had my text message function turned off on my account. No way to get any text messages now.

Ok, you can call me a grumpy old man, but I can't stand making words out of a telephone keypad.

**ultra man** · 28 May 2009, 5:38 am

Ok so we have SMS spam, now what do we going to have next? Voice Message Spam???

**Renee** · 28 May 2009, 5:58 pm

Originally Posted by ultra man

Ok so we have SMS spam, now what do we going to have next? Voice Message Spam???

There is also the spam where they call you once on your mobile showing their number, so you call them back and you get charged an amazing amount of money to listen to a recorded message telling you some bullshit..

**matted** · 28 May 2009, 9:47 pm

Originally Posted by Connie B

I've asked my phone provider to give me the name of the company who is charging me those $5 per spam. They said that can not provide that information.

Amazing... My response to that - "Well, you pay the $5 per spam, then!"

Tell me - under what circumstance would anyone knowingly pay $5 for a single SMS?

**Renee** · 28 May 2009, 9:57 pm

Connie there should be something in your country which is the equivalent to a telecommunications ombudsman. If you tell them you will report it there, they will hand over whatever information you want since they can be fined a huge amount by the ombudsman by reports like this. I would try that approach.

**Tower - Justin** · 2 June 2009, 1:56 pm

I used to work for a telecommunications company, a major one, about 2 years ago. Not sure if laws have changed since - but i remember was a clause in US law that basically stated...Silence is acceptance. Meaning that if u did not take the initiative to reply "STOP" to the msg...that they (the subscription company) could freely charge you. I also remember there was a group protesting against this @ the time, fueling a <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CWick%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsoht mlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CWick%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsoht mlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CWick%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsoht mlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w

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**mojo** · 2 June 2009, 2:16 pm

My ex-boss sent me this awhile ago. Thank you ex-boss! I called. It's easy and automated. Thought I posted it here but here it is...

Heads up

REMEMBER: Cell Phone Numbers Go Public today

REMINDER... all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies tomorrow and you will start to receive sale calls.

YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS

To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone:
888-382-1222
It is the National DO NOT CALL list. It will only take a minute of your time.
It blocks your number for five (5) years.
You must call from the cell phone number you want to have blocked .
You cannot call from a different phone number.

HELP OTHERS BY PASSING THIS ON TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS...
It takes about 20 seconds.

__________________

**raphnix** · 3 June 2009, 5:08 am

Some professionals already consider some call center companies selling credit cards and insurances as spam in their phones. Imagine if they actually called you all often everyday?

**Connie B** · 3 June 2009, 1:09 pm

Hello Everyone,

Thank you for all of your feedbacks.

I have received the bill yesterday and have been charged for some of those spams. Not all.
I will be calling them today and get all this sort out

Mojo: Thanks for the information. I write some articles for a Canadian Spanish Newspaper and my next article will be about SMS Spam and share that info on the article.

Renee: We have MR. ROGERS here in Canada and they have a very good deal with the government where you dont have many choices around and change phone providers.

Cheers,

Connie Burstin

**Renee** · 3 June 2009, 9:34 pm

Originally Posted by mojo

My ex-boss sent me this awhile ago. Thank you ex-boss! I called. It's easy and automated. Thought I posted it here but here it is...

__________________

You can find the thing on snopes.com saying this one is bull

They could never do this because so many children have mobile phones (like my 11 year old brother) and it would have to be some kind of security risk.

**pgaming** · 3 June 2009, 11:07 pm

Originally Posted by Renee

There is also the spam where they call you once on your mobile showing their number, so you call them back and you get charged an amazing amount of money to listen to a recorded message telling you some bullshit..

Yup I fell for this one just two weeks ago on my Lan line. A telemarketer in disguise and after raging on his butt for five minutes he ask me to repeat myself. He was trying so hard to keep me on the phone I eventually hung up. Still angry I phoned the number back, not available. Then it dawned on me, oh sh** I been dooked.

Called my Telephone Service up and they confirmed it was indeed a scam and I would not be billed any additional charges.

Cell phones I rarely use. Any signal traveling through the air gives me the creeps. So I settled for Pay Per Use my name is not attached to the phone.

Maybe I worry too much?

greek39

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