Funews2day.com: Anyone had this likely Spark scam notification?

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Funews2day.com: Anyone had this likely Spark scam notification?

frednz

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#215287 20-Jun-2017 16:47

I have received this message on my mobile:

"You are today's lucky winner.

The page at funews2day.com says:

Congratulations!

Spark New Zealand Trading Limited user!

You have been selected as the winner of today's FREE iPhone 7, PlayStation 4 or Samsung Galaxy S7!

Please click OK to claim your prize before we give it to someone else!"

Has anyone else received this message. The web page reference it appears to come from is:

funws2day.com/fb/sweeps/

It doesn't look genuine, but perhaps someone could confirm this for me! I don't want to push "OK" to claim my prize!

Cheers

Fred

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meow
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#1804196 20-Jun-2017 17:15

Standard information gathering scam.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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dfnt

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#1804202 20-Jun-2017 17:49

I've already claimed the prize, sorry you were too slow /s

Behodar

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#1804221 20-Jun-2017 18:32

frednz: Spark New Zealand Trading Limited user!

That's a dead giveaway (although the rest of the message is too!)

That'll be scraped from an IP address database, using the company's legal name instead of the "marketing" name.

frednz

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#1804253 20-Jun-2017 19:38

michaelmurfy: Standard information gathering scam.

Thanks for your reply, yes, very annoying and it raises the question of how they got my phone number!

The message also said that:

We choose 10 random and lucky visitors every Tuesday on who gets a giveaway from our sponsor. This is our way of saying "Thank you" because you are a loyal Spark New Zealand Trading Limited user.

You have to answer in 4 minutes and 29 seconds on the 3 following questions before the prizes are awarded.

I didn't try and see what the questions were!

My Samsung web browser now automatically loads the homepage with funews2day.com and I'm finding it a bit hard to get rid of but no doubt I'll work it out!

frednz

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#1804264 20-Jun-2017 19:40

Behodar:

frednz: Spark New Zealand Trading Limited user!

That's a dead giveaway (although the rest of the message is too!)

That'll be scraped from an IP address database, using the company's legal name instead of the "marketing" name.

Thanks, I wonder if Spark is interested in getting to the source of such scam web pop-ups? They are a real nuisance!

frednz

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#1804269 20-Jun-2017 19:43

nas:

I've already claimed the prize, sorry you were too slow /s

Well that's really decent of you and I'm sure you'll enjoy your prize!

p.s. I'm glad I was too slow!

Behodar

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#1804271 20-Jun-2017 19:55

frednz: Thanks for your reply, yes, very annoying and it raises the question of how they got my phone number!

Chances are that they don't have it.

frednz: Thanks, I wonder if Spark is interested in getting to the source of such scam web pop-ups? They are a real nuisance!

Don't take this the wrong way, but it's not Spark's problem. This could happen with any provider.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

frednz

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#1804481 21-Jun-2017 09:38

Behodar:

frednz: Thanks for your reply, yes, very annoying and it raises the question of how they got my phone number!

Chances are that they don't have it.

frednz: Thanks, I wonder if Spark is interested in getting to the source of such scam web pop-ups? They are a real nuisance!

Don't take this the wrong way, but it's not Spark's problem. This could happen with any provider.

If you type in Google "Spark Scam" you'll find dozens of references to scams involving the use of Spark's name. I was quite impressed to see this page on Spark's site that contains very helpful information for people who have received possible fake messages involving the use of Spark's name.

Although it may not be Spark's problem to get to the source of these scams, they are at least sympathetic to people who have been involved with a Spark scam.

So, if "it's not Spark's problem" to try and eliminate such scams, whose problem is it?

1101

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#1804492 21-Jun-2017 10:16

So, if "it's not Spark's problem" to try and eliminate such scams, whose problem is it?

cut off the head & another will pop up

The way to stop it is to nuke all life out of India, Pakistan, China, Russia, NZ(yes) etc. Then take down the internet
This is the only way to stop it .

Its a bit like finding a way to stop all dishonesty & all crime. Will never happen.

DarkShadow

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#1804508 21-Jun-2017 10:29

frednz:

My Samsung web browser now automatically loads the homepage with funews2day.com and I'm finding it a bit hard to get rid of but no doubt I'll work it out!

You installed any apps recently on your phone? Any one that looks especially dodgy?

Wheelbarrow01

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#1804522 21-Jun-2017 11:04

DarkShadow:

frednz:

My Samsung web browser now automatically loads the homepage with funews2day.com and I'm finding it a bit hard to get rid of but no doubt I'll work it out!

You installed any apps recently on your phone? Any one that looks especially dodgy?

I'd also suggest you may have input your phone number online somewhere, perhaps an online competition or similar. Some apps that you download subscribe you to other things like this without your knowledge. Not much you can do about it and certainly nothing Spark can do sorry. Best thing you can do is retrace your steps in terms of app installations. If you have not installed any apps lately, you could try a factory reset which may solve the issue.

Others may have better suggestions as I am definitely no expert.

The views expressed by me are not necessarily those of my employer Chorus NZ Ltd

frednz

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#1804861 21-Jun-2017 20:46

Wheelbarrow01:

DarkShadow:

frednz:

My Samsung web browser now automatically loads the homepage with funews2day.com and I'm finding it a bit hard to get rid of but no doubt I'll work it out!

You installed any apps recently on your phone? Any one that looks especially dodgy?

I'd also suggest you may have input your phone number online somewhere, perhaps an online competition or similar. Some apps that you download subscribe you to other things like this without your knowledge. Not much you can do about it and certainly nothing Spark can do sorry. Best thing you can do is retrace your steps in terms of app installations. If you have not installed any apps lately, you could try a factory reset which may solve the issue.

Others may have better suggestions as I am definitely no expert.

Thanks very much for your helpful replies. No, I haven't installed any apps recently and I haven't entered my phone number online. The fact that the scam URL comes up on the homepage of my browser doesn't worry me too much (and probably isn't doing any harm to the phone's software etc) because most of the websites I visit are from individual icons for apps linking directly to sites such as Stuff, NZ Herald etc etc. But it does look like I may have to do a factory reset to get rid of the scam URL which is a real nuisance!

freitasm

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#1804866 21-Jun-2017 20:52

If your browser homepage was changed then it's likely some malware or adware. The Android marketplace is full of malware-infested apps, fake apps and more. You might not worry about your browser but there's no way to know (if in fact there's some malware app) if your details, passwords, contacts, etc isn't being siphoned to somewhere in China...

Norton Security for Android is your friend (and don't even think of using a free anti-malware, they're mostly malware themselves...)

frednz

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#1804874 21-Jun-2017 21:10

freitasm:

If your browser homepage was changed then it's likely some malware or adware. The Android marketplace is full of malware-infested apps, fake apps and more. You might not worry about your browser but there's no way to know (if in fact there's some malware app) if your details, passwords, contacts, etc isn't being siphoned to somewhere in China...

Norton Security for Android is your friend (and don't even think of using a free anti-malware, they're mostly malware themselves...)

Thanks very much for your post. I have had "Norton Mobile Security" installed on my Samsung mobile phone for a long time and it now reports that there is "no malware detected". But I only have the free version of this app installed so it may be worthwhile to pay for the full version (which I have on my laptops).

freitasm

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#1804900 21-Jun-2017 21:32

It looks like the free version does the malware protection but the Premium version have other features, so you should be ok. Go to Settings andat the bottom you have LiveUpdate - see if that has been recently updated...

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