Geekzone: technology news, blogs, forums
Guest
Welcome Guest.
You haven't logged in yet. If you don't have an account you can register now.


Rickles

2938 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#245546 10-Feb-2019 10:14
Send private message

Wife just got a TXT from Vodafone number 7127 saying she gets 1000 minutes free for 30 days just by TXT'ing "Yes".

 

Genuine? 🙂


Create new topic
tdgeek
29755 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #2175752 10-Feb-2019 10:22
Send private message

If it was not genuine and you texted YES what could happen? 

 

Seems that as tech gets twice as better, security get four times worse




Rickles

2938 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

  #2175753 10-Feb-2019 10:27
Send private message

     >If it was not genuine and you texted YES what could happen? <

 

I've donated all my credit to Trump's wall?

 

     >Seems that as tech gets twice as better, security get four times worse<

 

Oh yeah ... we all seem to be really suspicious of anything that is unsolicited.

 

 

 

 


tdgeek
29755 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #2175765 10-Feb-2019 10:33
Send private message

Rickles:

 

     >If it was not genuine and you texted YES what could happen? <

 

I've donated all my credit to Trump's wall?

 

     >Seems that as tech gets twice as better, security get four times worse<

 

Oh yeah ... we all seem to be really suspicious of anything that is unsolicited.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And all the hacking and so forth, and two bitcoin companies in the news. But for your issue, while we know that a spam email could trick someone into access, what could your potential fake text do? I cant think of anything, but hard to say




Aredwood
3885 posts

Uber Geek


  #2175796 10-Feb-2019 11:22

tdgeek:

Rickles:


     >If it was not genuine and you texted YES what could happen? <


I've donated all my credit to Trump's wall?


     >Seems that as tech gets twice as better, security get four times worse<


Oh yeah ... we all seem to be really suspicious of anything that is unsolicited.


 


 



And all the hacking and so forth, and two bitcoin companies in the news. But for your issue, while we know that a spam email could trick someone into access, what could your potential fake text do? I cant think of anything, but hard to say



It would confirm to whoever sent it, that the number is live, and is used by a human. (instead of an IOT device or a modem). And that the human might be a good potential mark for future scams.

If it is possible to spoof the ”from” number, replying yes could sign you up to almost anything.

And Vodafone have their SIMs hard coded, so they can txt you with offers that say they are from ”Vodafone” instead of a random number. So surely Vodafone would use that system for any official offers or promotions they are running.

Unless a 3rd party is paying Vodafone to apply credit to your account. But why would someone do that?





Linux
11435 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #2175821 10-Feb-2019 12:35
Send private message

Yes the offer is from VodafoneNZ

 

John


tdgeek
29755 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #2175824 10-Feb-2019 12:39
Send private message

Aredwood:
tdgeek:

 

Rickles:

 

 

 

     >If it was not genuine and you texted YES what could happen? <

 

 

 

I've donated all my credit to Trump's wall?

 

 

 

     >Seems that as tech gets twice as better, security get four times worse<

 

 

 

Oh yeah ... we all seem to be really suspicious of anything that is unsolicited.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And all the hacking and so forth, and two bitcoin companies in the news. But for your issue, while we know that a spam email could trick someone into access, what could your potential fake text do? I cant think of anything, but hard to say

 



It would confirm to whoever sent it, that the number is live, and is used by a human. (instead of an IOT device or a modem). And that the human might be a good potential mark for future scams.

If it is possible to spoof the ”from” number, replying yes could sign you up to almost anything.

And Vodafone have their SIMs hard coded, so they can txt you with offers that say they are from ”Vodafone” instead of a random number. So surely Vodafone would use that system for any official offers or promotions they are running.

Unless a 3rd party is paying Vodafone to apply credit to your account. But why would someone do that?

 

I, like many, dont know that Vodafone uses hard coded sims, so while what you say is correct, many wont know that, and many wont know if they might be "sign you up to almost anything."


Linux
11435 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #2175825 10-Feb-2019 12:44
Send private message

The offers come from Shortcodes so customers can reply for different offers, If they came from ' Vodafone ' they could not reply

 

I use to setup up all the Shortcodes on the VSMSC using vi

 

John


 
 
 

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

2938 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

  #2175932 10-Feb-2019 13:49
Send private message

@Linux … thanks John, but I think that what the others are saying is how does one determine the origin of the 'shortcode'?


Linux
11435 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #2175944 10-Feb-2019 14:05
Send private message

@Aredwood You are not correct VodafoneNZ does not hardcode Shortcodes into the SIM cards for SMS offers like above

 

The SIM's have some Shortcodes in the STK (SIM toolkit) but these are used for different reasons like Postpay / Prepay shortcodes for getting balances

 

The Shortcodes are different for different offers

 

John


stinger
628 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user


  #2175947 10-Feb-2019 14:13
Send private message

Linux:

 

@Aredwood You are not correct VodafoneNZ does not hardcode Shortcodes into the SIM cards for SMS offers like above

 

 

You'd think the SMS would have a (shortened) URL to verify the offer is legit (where the URL contains vodafone.co.nz and mentions the number that the SMS is sent from). I just checked the offers I received from 2 degrees (short code 288), and they don't have a URL on them either. I don't blame the OP for trying to verify the offer is valid. Texting yes to a premium SMS could sign them up to many dollars in rogue charges.


richms
28218 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #2175950 10-Feb-2019 14:31
Send private message

Also you have no idea with shortcodes what it will cost you, so it could be a really expensive one and people get tricked into replying YES to give them some money.

 

I as a general rule will not send to shortcodes. Sucks with doctors and dentists that expect you to reply at your cost to confirm appointments but I just ring them since that comes out of the crap load of minutes I am forced to buy with my mobile internet connection.





Richard rich.ms

Create new topic





News and reviews »

Gen Threat Report Reveals Rise in Crypto, Sextortion and Tech Support Scams
Posted 7-Aug-2025 13:09


Logitech G and McLaren Racing Sign New, Expanded Multi-Year Partnership
Posted 7-Aug-2025 13:00


A Third of New Zealanders Fall for Online Scams Says Trend Micro
Posted 7-Aug-2025 12:43


OPPO Releases Its Most Stylish and Compact Smartwatch Yet, the Watch X2 Mini.
Posted 7-Aug-2025 12:37


Epson Launches New High-End EH-LS9000B Home Theatre Laser Projector
Posted 7-Aug-2025 12:34


Air New Zealand Starts AI adoption with OpenAI
Posted 24-Jul-2025 16:00


eero Pro 7 Review
Posted 23-Jul-2025 12:07


BeeStation Plus Review
Posted 21-Jul-2025 14:21


eero Unveils New Wi-Fi 7 Products in New Zealand
Posted 21-Jul-2025 00:01


WiZ Introduces HDMI Sync Box and other Light Devices
Posted 20-Jul-2025 17:32


RedShield Enhances DDoS and Bot Attack Protection
Posted 20-Jul-2025 17:26


Seagate Ships 30TB Drives
Posted 17-Jul-2025 11:24


Oclean AirPump A10 Water Flosser Review
Posted 13-Jul-2025 11:05


Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7: Raising the Bar for Smartphones
Posted 10-Jul-2025 02:01


Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 Brings New Edge-To-Edge FlexWindow
Posted 10-Jul-2025 02:01









Geekzone Live »

Try automatic live updates from Geekzone directly in your browser, without refreshing the page, with Geekzone Live now.



Are you subscribed to our RSS feed? You can download the latest headlines and summaries from our stories directly to your computer or smartphone by using a feed reader.