Mobile Scam:

[tec0]

The SMS goes as follow: Congratulations! Your mobile no. Won R95,000. In Nokia Yearly Promo. With Ticket no. P197V. For Claims Call Mr Victor on: 076***0552.

I don’t know if I can give the full number or not. Dave only with your permission.

But this person will then ask you to load up money to your phone and phone them back. Or As I was informed by Nokia they will ask you for your bank details. This is a scam and I have reported it to my service provider MTN and to Nokia So I will keep you up to date!

Please don’t fall for this one!

[Dave A]

I've no objection to you giving the full number.

[tec0]

The SMS goes as follow: Congratulations! Your mobile no. Won R95,000. In Nokia Yearly Promo. With Ticket no. P197V. For Claims Call Mr Victor on: 0762490552.

[tonyflanigan]

I had something similar a few days ago, but deleted the thing. What did happen is the following.

I enjoy this sort of sms as much as I enjoy attempted spam on my blog. I sms'ed back to the number concerned, and whoops! R10-00 gone!

[tec0]

Here is the thing, if you call someone and they charge you R10 per 1 minute or whatever that that number must be registered by the mobile company for them to get the money of the call?? So the mobile company knows who is doing the scam and they can identify the person but they don’t and that is what gets me angry.

[tonyflanigan]

and RICA? call any of the service providers, and the response is "... eeh, ah dunno...." just give up while still sane and go kick the (neighbor's) dog etc etc etc

[tec0]

True but it is so frustrating knowing that our Police, government and the telecommunication industry is help these criminals by NOT helping us...

[daveob]

Here is the thing, if you call someone and they charge you R10 per 1 minute or whatever that that number must be registered by the mobile company for them to get the money of the call?? So the mobile company knows who is doing the scam and they can identify the person but they don’t and that is what gets me angry.

and WHY would the operators want to stop this ? They keep a HUGE chunk of the cost of a call to a premium number, so helping you would reduce profits.

[Dave A]

and WHY would the operators want to stop this ?

Because it is unethical conduct? If an operator becomes aware that their client is generating VAS funds by fraudulent means they should be taking stern action.

They surely make enough money in honest business...

Threaten the operators with loss of their licence, or 10% of their turnover like the anti-trust legislation allows and perhaps they'll take the issue seriously.

[tec0]

Fact is motivation. Here is the thing if set up a company and when people phone me for info I can track my volume of calls. Now think about this: if I get a high volume of calls then and I set-up a line that charges R10 a minute and people phone me without knowing this then I am about to make a lot of money and the sad part is I am giving them quotations so basically I am giving them information for the money spend. So... mmmm there is a nice plan for 2010

[SilverNodashi]

I got one like this from a Botswana number so they're all over the show!

[tec0]

Well I can imagine that it will come from all over because there is no reason for them to fear capture so happy days will win prizes that can never be collected!!!

[tonyflanigan]

Fact is motivation. Here is the thing if set up a company and when people phone me for info I can track my volume of calls. Now think about this: if I get a high volume of calls then and I set-up a line that charges R10 a minute and people phone me without knowing this then I am about to make a lot of money and the sad part is I am giving them quotations so basically I am giving them information for the money spend. So... mmmm there is a nice plan for 2010

tec0, you sir are a genius! Run multiple such numbers, from mid March to the last part of July, offering info etc to tourists! With a bit of luck, and a back hander to one or two Gov. officials, you'll be able to retire in August!

[molapo]

hi there I got one sms like that on friday and they say call Dr james albot they are crazy its exactly the same sms about nokia