Just got a txt - is it real? "Are you the account holder?"

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Just got a txt - is it real? "Are you the account holder?"

timbosan

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#144025 5-May-2014 11:51

Hi all, I just got a TXT from 128 (I am with Telecom Mobile) asking am I the account holder, and to reply Yes or No. Seems very odd as Telecom would already have this type of information. So is this Spam or phishing, or is it something else?

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1948 posts

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#1036906 5-May-2014 12:06

I'm asking around what the story is.

Edit: Can you please message me your phone number (or email me pl at telecom.co.nz) and we can track it.

sdav

846 posts

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#1037283 5-May-2014 19:40

It's the GCSB.

surfisup1000

5288 posts

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#1037288 5-May-2014 19:53

timbosan: Hi all, I just got a TXT from 128 (I am with Telecom Mobile) asking am I the account holder, and to reply Yes or No. Seems very odd as Telecom would already have this type of information. So is this Spam or phishing, or is it something else?

Telecom wouldn't send stuff like this, bet it's spam.

DarthKermit

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#1037289 5-May-2014 19:54

Makes a change from "Your mobile number has won you $1,000,000" I guess.

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

coffeebaron

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#1037306 5-May-2014 20:25

DarthKermit: Makes a change from "Your mobile number has won you $1,000,000" I guess.

That's the next text he will receive after he replies "yes"

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nakedmolerat

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#1037355 5-May-2014 21:23

Congratulatios!Your mobile number was selected as a winner of£2,500.000.00 on UK Mobile Lottery with Draw number 161013 email rhowad780@gmail.com for claims

Anyone want my lottery money?

kiwitrc

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#1037393 5-May-2014 22:18

Can they spoof text numbers now?

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timbosan

2159 posts

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#1037428 5-May-2014 23:13

kiwitrc: Can they spoof text numbers now?

Well, that's the thing - it came from 128 and appears in the list of TXT messages from Telecom (which are real). And what would a spammer gain from knowing if a person is the account holder? And unless it's a corporate phone, then most phones would be used by the account holder.

And nope, no mention of winning any dollars, pounds, euros, rupees, or bitcoins.

Hopefully Telecom (plambrechtsen) can shed some light on it tomorrow.

Bung

6477 posts

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#1037438 5-May-2014 23:53

128 is the Credit Department. Any reason they may want money?

Kyanar

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#1037439 5-May-2014 23:56

timbosan:
kiwitrc: Can they spoof text numbers now?

Well, that's the thing - it came from 128 and appears in the list of TXT messages from Telecom (which are real). And what would a spammer gain from knowing if a person is the account holder? And unless it's a corporate phone, then most phones would be used by the account holder.

And nope, no mention of winning any dollars, pounds, euros, rupees, or bitcoins.

Hopefully Telecom (plambrechtsen) can shed some light on it tomorrow.

Yeah, but if you reply, then the message would go back to... you guessed it... 128. What would a spammer gain from Telecom receiving a message saying "Yes"?

farcus

1554 posts

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#1037440 6-May-2014 00:09

it's real.
128 send these texts to confirm you are the account holder before sending you what might be sensitive information in regards to your account.
(it's usually a text advising you have a specific period of time to pay an overdue account before any further action is taken).
The reason the text is sent is that often there are multiple telephones connected to one account so they want to make sure that the primary number they have for an account is actually held by the person responsible for the account and not a different family member that might completely ignore an important message.

lucky015

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#1037470 6-May-2014 01:34

farcus: it's real.
128 send these texts to confirm you are the account holder before sending you what might be sensitive information in regards to your account.
(it's usually a text advising you have a specific period of time to pay an overdue account before any further action is taken).
The reason the text is sent is that often there are multiple telephones connected to one account so they want to make sure that the primary number they have for an account is actually held by the person responsible for the account and not a different family member that might completely ignore an important message.

REALLY? The word yes is all it takes to get private info? In the meantime sounding more scam-like than the actual scams?

farcus

1554 posts

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#1037476 6-May-2014 02:39

lucky015:
farcus: it's real.
128 send these texts to confirm you are the account holder before sending you what might be sensitive information in regards to your account.
(it's usually a text advising you have a specific period of time to pay an overdue account before any further action is taken).
The reason the text is sent is that often there are multiple telephones connected to one account so they want to make sure that the primary number they have for an account is actually held by the person responsible for the account and not a different family member that might completely ignore an important message.

REALLY? The word yes is all it takes to get private info? In the meantime sounding more scam-like than the actual scams?

thinking on it - if I remember correctly from the days when I worked there (and that was more than a few years ago) - if you reply yes, you get another text asking you to call 128. I don't think any info is actually given out in the text. They just wanna make sure they are getting the correct person to call in regarding the account.
But in almost all situations the text is because of an overdue, unpaid account.

timbosan

2159 posts

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#1037524 6-May-2014 09:22

Sorry, just doesn't sound right, simply because there are NO other phones on the account, never has been, I don't even have a land-line with Telecom any more.

xpd

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#1037528 6-May-2014 09:34

But do you owe them money ? Thats what it comes down to...

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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