SMS Spam?

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toii

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#32628 21-Apr-2009 20:19

Tonight I received a spam message from WapPush with URL http://c-tones.com/wap/?c=xxxx. the message text was NO CHARGE WHATS HOT IN NZ TONES 3233. Is anyone else getting this? Is it from Vodafone or someone external?

Mod edit SB - changed URL to stop user receiving spam if anybody else uses that URL as detailed by paradoxsm below.

sbiddle

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#208426 21-Apr-2009 20:27

It's a foreign provider sending WAP PUSH messages. These are just regular SMS messages that contain a UDH data field so they can display a URL.

Vodafone are aware of these but there isn't necessarily a lot that they can presently do to filter these.

johnr

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#208430 21-Apr-2009 20:45

No they are not from Vodafone

John

paradoxsm

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#208455 21-Apr-2009 22:57

The spammer is quite sneaky, they are targeting mobile numbers identifying them when thay access the link with the HASH on the end of each induvidial message.
When and if you access the site you are then deemed to have "accepted" the terms and will start getting $5 messages within a week. Poster, I suggest to change the address you have posted to "http://c-tones.com/wap/?c=$HASH#"

Obviously they have got a local shortcode they can then target the chargebacks, The providers seem to almost condone this sort of behaviour, I'm going to be pushing for a "Premium SMS block" to be implemented just as you can block 0900 calls as there seem to be a lot of people getting ripped off by a lot of very dodgy "premium SMS" operators with things like 0800 helpme numbers that don't work, stop codes that charge $5 etc.

I have ripped the entire wap site, the content is utter crap I'll add and I doubt they have legally licensed any of the tracks.

Thanks to my prepay being $0 they won't be getting a cent from me.

toii

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#210629 29-Apr-2009 18:58

Tonight i received another message from the same number telling me c-tones club is $6 per week and to txt stop to the number to opt out. I rang vodafone customer services asking what this was because I didnt want to reply thinking it is some kind of scam. The person I spoke to told me nothing has been charged to my account and to reply STOP to the number. I searched on the internet and found a c-tones.com website that seems to be the same company. This is the text on their homepage. Sounds like a dodgy operation.

"By entering this site/purchasing our services, you accept that we have the right to send you (free) marketing messages promoting similar products and services to you,
and you also accept that our preferred partners may also offer you 3rd party marketing and promotions of products and services we think you may enjoy.
By entering this site/purchasing our services, you also acknowledge that such promotions may be some time in the future from when your
initial purchases were made. You may choose not to receive any promotional messages from us or our partners, by replying to the promotional
message with the word STOP at any time to 3233 or calling customer support on 0800 447 343."

LennonNZ

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#210632 29-Apr-2009 19:11

TXT spam is illegal in New Zealand and someone must be providing the service in New Zealand for them for the SMS number 3233 (Their ain't many companies who offer these short codes) so they are doing business in NZ (and also targeting New Zealand). I would pass this onto the DIA (www.antispam.govt.nz) and see what they can do about this...

toii

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#210635 29-Apr-2009 19:28

I forwarded details to DIA

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lapimate

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#210661 29-Apr-2009 20:21

sbiddle: ... there isn't necessarily a lot that they can presently do to filter these. ...

Can you explain the difficulty a bit more? It is hard to believe there is not a technical possibility to filter these - is it not more likely that Vodafone do not wish to reduce profit by preventing this particular abuse? Has Vodafone willingly signed international agreements which facilitate this behaviour, which appears to be in contravention of the spirit of NZ anti-spam law? I speculate the argument would be that it is not against the actual letter of the law because it is an SMS message not an e-mail message(!)

LennonNZ

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#210667 29-Apr-2009 20:30

SMS and Email spam are covered under the same NZ law.. they are both illegal.
Fax spamming is not illegal tho.. I wish it was..

sbiddle

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#210668 29-Apr-2009 20:32

lapimate:
sbiddle: ... there isn't necessarily a lot that they can presently do to filter these. ...

Can you explain the difficulty a bit more? It is hard to believe there is not a technical possibility to filter these - is it not more likely that Vodafone do not wish to reduce profit by preventing this particular abuse? Has Vodafone willingly signed international agreements which facilitate this behaviour, which appears to be in contravention of the spirit of NZ anti-spam law? I speculate the argument would be that it is not against the actual letter of the law because it is an SMS message not an e-mail message(!)

These are SMS WAP Push messages that don't originate within NZ that are being sent from a foreign SMSC, possibly a web based service.

My understanding is that Vodafone simply don't have the capability with their SMSR's to block these messages from arriving. They have the capability to block an entire SMSC but that would also block plenty of legitimate messages.

paradoxsm

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#210671 29-Apr-2009 20:43

call the 0800 number provided from a land line and enter the details, you should get a text stating "unsubscribed"

Somebody probably clicked the link when you originally posted it "confirming" your subscription.

The Telco's are in on it alright, I have seen Adverts on VodafoneLIVE for a couple of premium SMS service, poor poor. Though in Vodafone's defence, they do provide a list of shortcodes to that can be downloaded from the website.

toii

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#213080 7-May-2009 10:11

As suspected, a $6 charge appeared on my last bill. I am overseas so I emailed Vodafone customer services and the person responding is now saying it is not Vodafone's responsibility and that I need to resolve it with the organisation. I dont know if it was the sending of the STOP message that resulted in the charge or if there will continue to be more charges in the future.

My contract is with Vodafone. I have not authorised Vodafone to bill me for this service. I have responded explaining that I was assured any billing problem would be sorted out as described earlier in this posting. Now I am being told something different.

I have replied to Customer Services asking for this issue to be escalated to someone that can sort out the account.

If anyone from Vodafone is monitoring this posting and knows what is the most appropriate way to get this sorted out I would be pleased to hear.

This c-tones organisation is bunch of scumbags.

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paradoxsm

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#213096 7-May-2009 10:42

Call the 0800 number and enter your details or reply STOP to the number. I never heard anything from them again after that. Emailing vodafone seems to have a trend of not getting you anywhere.

toii

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#214131 11-May-2009 15:57

Someone from Vodafone got back to me and credited the charge from the account as the first person said they would. If I was Vodafone I would not be allowing this company to provide premium SMS messages to their customers.