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kingdragonfly

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#289795 29-Sep-2021 16:46
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Can anyone confirm that 4115 is Skinny?

I contacted their support team, and they acted as though they have no idea what I'm talking about.

I tracked down an SMS Australian internet marketing firm called "Burst SMS" / "Transmit SMS" / "BurstSMS" / "TransmitSMS"

They are sending illegal Opt-out SMS message from 4115

Para Rubber: Full Range of Steel Wall and Deep End Pools now available for Summer, while stocks last! TapTh.is/*******. Interest FREE over 12 months
opt-out STOP

First Skinny's support page "submit" button wouldn't work from either Chrome / Internet Explorer

Then I went onto Skinny website, only to get stuck into a chatbot ad-nasuem, until I said "talk to human"

Then I got a human, who first said "they look into it" which I then followed up how she was going to follow up.

After a very long pause, she said she'd talk to support.

Support then suggested it was a "Flubot courier scam".

Since the website from the SMS goes to an Internet Marketing firm for Pararubber, it's clearly not courier company scam.

Extremely frustrating.

I did report the SMS message to the DIA spam report number,7726

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Yabanize
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  #2786454 29-Sep-2021 16:56
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Someone probably just typed your number instead of theirs by mistake into a Para Rubber form

 

Reply STOP and that should be the end of it




kingdragonfly

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  #2786459 29-Sep-2021 17:02
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I purchased a product from Para Rubber 6 months ago, form their website.

Opt-out sms messages are illegal in New Zealand.

If one spammer succeeds, then one hundred more will follow.


Linux
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  #2786500 29-Sep-2021 18:27
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kingdragonfly: I purchased a product from Para Rubber 6 months ago, form their website.

Opt-out sms messages are illegal in New Zealand.

If one spammer succeeds, then one hundred
more will follow.



@kingdragonfly Opt out messages should not be charged they are not illegal. The opt out is actually a requirement of marketing SMS

Have you called Para Rubber? This is nothing to do with Skinny! Call Para Rubber simple as that

 

No idea why you are asking if 4115 is Skinny (this makes zero sense)




Yabanize
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  #2786518 29-Sep-2021 18:58
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Ok, did you by chance have a box checked on the form you filled that said they could text you with marketing?


kingdragonfly

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  #2786572 29-Sep-2021 19:10
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There's a good reason why opt-put SMS message are illegal in New Zealand.

It's the phone equivalent of a salesperson knocking at your door.

I think you can't dial 4 digits numbers, as they are "premium" numbers. For me at least, they only appear when receiving SMS messages.

You'd think New Zealand phone providers would have a term of service that doesn't allow Opt-out SMS messages.

There's a magic phonebook out on the Internet which allows you to see the provider for these 4 digits numbers; 4115 was Skinny, so I assume it still is.

I know some people still have access to this 4 digit premium number providers, so I wanted to make sure I was complaing to the correct provider.

And don't worry; I've given Pararubber an earful about this misuse of my customer information foropt-out marketing.

kingdragonfly

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  #2786573 29-Sep-2021 19:15
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Yabanize:

Ok, did you by chance have a box checked on the form you filled that said they could text you with marketing?



I never ,ever tick any box that allow marketing.

I've had companies spamming me say "oh that's in our terms and conditions to automatically enroll you in our marketing offers."

Any company can put anything into terms and conditions, like "by ordering, you have consented that your first child is to be given to us."

Terms and conditions do not over-ride New Zealand laws.

Linux
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  #2786583 29-Sep-2021 19:40
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kingdragonfly: There's a good reason why opt-put SMS message are illegal in New Zealand.

There's a magic phonebook out on the Internet which allows you to see the provider for these 4 digits numbers; 4115 was Skinny, so I assume it still is.

 

@kingdragonfly A magic phone book are you kidding?? It is called a pdf file!

 

What part of ' Opt-Out ' is a requirement don't you understand?

 

I use to setup these Shortcodes up on VodafoneNZ SMS routers and VSMSC's for many years


 
 
 

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kingdragonfly

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  #2786606 29-Sep-2021 20:14
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Linux: What part of ' Opt-Out ' is a requirement don't you understand?


I use to setup these Shortcodes up on VodafoneNZ SMS routers and VSMSC's for many years



What part of illegal do you not understand?

If you've set up SMS routers, you should know the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Act 2007

Just because you can do something, doesn't mean it's legal.

Did you even look at the DIA links I provided?

Linux
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  #2786608 29-Sep-2021 20:23
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@kingdragonfly Yes I know the act and have also worked with the DIA on a case!

 

I suggest you go back and read it again

 

" Opt Out ' Reply Stop is a requirement for all SMS sent to users that have ' Opted In ' to get Marketing SMS

 

Forced ' Opt in ' is illegal that forces you to ' Opt Out '


Linux
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  #2786610 29-Sep-2021 20:31
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I still have zero idea why you contacted Skinny and never bothered to contact ' Para Rubber ' and ask ' Have you got my mobile number on your SMS list / database

 

If they come back and say ' Yes ' and you can say well I never ' Opted in ' for these alerts and then you have a case with the DIA


Oblivian
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  #2786635 29-Sep-2021 20:51
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Check out the McDonald's app conditions some time.

Opting in is easily done without noticing. Even if not directly with the marketing agent sending it.

you also acknowledge that a further primary purpose for collection of your personal information by McDonald’s is to contact you in the future with information about the Club and McDonald’s generally, including special offers, market research or to provide you with marketing materials via any medium including in-Application push notifications, mail, telephone and commercial electronic messages (SMS (Short Message Service), MMS (Multimedia Message Service), IM (Instant Messaging) and email) or any other form of electronic, emerging, digital or conventional communications channel whether existing now or in the future. McDonald’s may share your personal information with its New Zealand and overseas related companies, servants, employees, agents, trusted third parties and promotional partners and who may contact you for their legitimate commercial purposes, including special offers, market research or to provide you with marketing materials in this way

kingdragonfly

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  #2786673 29-Sep-2021 22:06
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I just rechecked the Pararubber website, thoroughly, including the check-out process. When checking out, there's no check box about "subscribed to marketing list"; there's no mention of marketing in the terms and conditions (iIlegal). There's no checkboxes on my account page to untick (Illegal if default is yes). It's quite the opposite. You have to reenter your email address to get any marketing..

This is nt the first time I've gotten an opt-out spam SMS, raised a complaint to the DIA, and won.

It's literally in the Act 2007 title:
  • Unsolicited
  • Electronic Messages
>As mentioned I never opt-in to any marketing agreement.

Why should everyone who gets illegal spam opt-out, because a marketing company sends unsolicited electronic messages?

The law is clear. For the third time, please check out the DIA site advice for businesses, in particular express consent.

It can't be hidden in T&C.

I suspect McDonald's T&C are the same across the world, probably with the stipulation at the end "If any part of these clauses contradict local laws, the remaining clauses remain in effect".

In other words it's McDonald's lawyers' wish list. Terms & Conditions never override any local law.

I suggest anyone who get annoyed by these "opt-out" SMS message, do the very simple act of complaining to the DIA, by forwarding it to 7726.

Honestly I hate marketing companies. I'm not going to make their life's easy when they knowingly ignore the law.

Pararubber may have been led astray by an Australian marketing firm. If so, they can promise the DIA the won't do it again, and get off with a warning.

Oblivian
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  #2786688 29-Sep-2021 22:42
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So perhaps if you are an expert in the legislation and could have dealt with it offline.

This should be deleted as it is simply now an incorrectly pointed finger at skinny mobile.


kingdragonfly

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  #2786692 29-Sep-2021 22:50
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Even before I created this post, I told Skinny I was writing a post about this incident here.

And I soon as I wrote it, I sent them a link.

My first question is who's the service provider. For example the list of premeir SMS provider isposted in case someone accidently subscribe to a subscription, and wants a refund

Historically Skinny were the provider for this premier phone number, and even Skinny's tech support didn't deny it was their number. As noted there's a PDF file floating around who owns what premium number..

So Skinny doesn't seem to want to know if their services are being used by spammer; hence the title of this post. I guess all money is good money :(

If anyone will stop evading the question, who is doing the spammer's service provider, then I'll ask for the post to be deleted myself.

Linux
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  #2786730 30-Sep-2021 04:12
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@kingdragonfly It's ' Premium SMS ' and with marketing SMS does not matter which carrier you are with the Short Code the SMS comes from is the same!

Why would you email Skinny a link to this thread when it is nothing do with them? All the carrier is doing is delivering the SMS to the subscribers mobile number!

Instead of harassing Skinny and making yourself look like a douchebag go speak to ' Para Rubber ' I bet you provided your own mobile number to them or another customer accidentally gave them a incorrect mobile number!

Talk about how to turn a ant hill into a mountain

The answer to this question " If anyone will stop evading the question, who is doing the spammer's service provider, then I'll ask for the post to be deleted myself "

 

You posted ' Burst SMS ' in your first post and they are a valid business dealing in bulk SMS delivery not SMS marketing / Spamming

 

Does this SMS read like a SPAMMER has written the content of SMS? No way not in 100 years!!

 

" Para Rubber: Full Range of Steel Wall and Deep End Pools now available for Summer, while stocks last! TapTh.is/*******. Interest FREE over 12 months opt-out STOP "

 

@kingdragonfly This is not the work of a SPAMMER and this is not a Skinny problem

 

So now go call ' Para Rubber ' and speak to them and come back and tell us how you get on

 

 

 

 


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