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Forums › Vodafone New Zealand › SMS Spam from 3810 - Quiz


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Topic # 64897 25-Jul-2010 03:03
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I recieved the following SMS from 3810 on the 20th of July:
FreeMsg:WIN $1000 FREE in TODAYS BUMPER QUIZ. Question? Would Mel Gibson be seen on SCREEN or on a DONKEY? Text SCREEN or DONKEY to 3810

I rang Vodafone and they said it was a subscription service called C Tones and to call them to unsubscribe. They werent interested in making a complaint about the spam.
However I have never subscribed to their service and this looks like a scam to me. I bet that if you replied to their "Quiz" you would get subscribed to their service.

This raises a question of why Vodafone permit these services to operate on their network. Perhaps their share of the revenue (rumoured to be 50%) might have something to do with it.

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  Reply # 355975 25-Jul-2010 07:52
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Other Geekzone users got this the best idea is make a SPAM complaint via the DIA website and I am following this up Monday with the correct person in Vodafone. If you like PM me
your MSISDN and I will add it to the list.

Thanks John

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  Reply # 355978 25-Jul-2010 08:04
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Have you not entered your mobile number in any website lately? Have you used any Facebook application that offered to send the results to your mobile?

Those sites/applications have fineprint t&C that say you will be subscribing to their "services" if you do it.

You can reply this SMS with STOP and the provider must stop sending messages to you.





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  Reply # 355988 25-Jul-2010 09:14
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My wife got the exact same message around then too.
I told her not to reply as that would probably subscribe her to some service.






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  Reply # 356135 25-Jul-2010 18:11
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I also got the message on Saturday morning, and given I work in the industry I'm very careful about who gets my mobile. Likewise Vodafone gave me the push off and said I needed to deal with CTones. They also wouldn't confirm if I'd been charged $5 for the message.

I have never subscribed to this service or provided my mobile in any form to indicate I would want this service.

Tried to call the service but got a service center in India. They offered to unsubscribe me, but only their UK service team could provide details on how I was subscribed, and they are only available UK business hours.




Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat New Zealand as a Solution Architect for all things Linux, Virtual and of course Cloud. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

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  Reply # 356140 25-Jul-2010 18:25
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It seems a large number of people received this message (including me).

As John said log a complaint with the DIA

http://complaints.antispam.govt.nz/

This is the best course of action - especially if lots of people do this.

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  Reply # 356144 25-Jul-2010 18:39
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C-tones again?!?!?

These guys are as bad as Wyndham Resorts!

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=40&topicid=32628

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  Reply # 356152 25-Jul-2010 19:15
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Vodafone takes these breaches serious we suspended a 3rd party provider last week until further notice

Here is the thread on the Vodafone Forum

http://forum.vodafone.co.nz/topic/5580-response-to-suen-hoax-post-by-brent08/page__p__48045&#entry48...

Thanks John



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  Reply # 356292 26-Jul-2010 00:48
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Oblivian: C-tones again?!?!?

These guys are as bad as Wyndham Resorts!

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=40&topicid=32628

I think Vodafone have a lot of explaining to do regarding why they permit them to operate a shortcode on their network given that this dosen't look like the first time spam has been associated with them. If Vodafone disconnected all of the questionable shortcodes I would think better of them as a company and I am sure others would as well. Even a Premium TXT blocking service would be better than the current situation.



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  Reply # 356295 26-Jul-2010 00:50
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johnr: Other Geekzone users got this the best idea is make a SPAM complaint via the DIA website and I am following this up Monday with the correct person in Vodafone. If you like PM me
your MSISDN and I will add it to the list.

Thanks John

Thanks for looking into it John. I have lodged a complaint with the DIA.



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  Reply # 356296 26-Jul-2010 00:51
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freitasm: Have you not entered your mobile number in any website lately? Have you used any Facebook application that offered to send the results to your mobile?

Those sites/applications have fineprint t&C that say you will be subscribing to their "services" if you do it.

You can reply this SMS with STOP and the provider must stop sending messages to you.


Nope. Very careful who I give this number to. Given the other posts it appears this really is a spam run.

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  Reply # 356319 26-Jul-2010 07:43
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You know, I am curious why providers do not offer a Premium TXT blocking service. It's clear that there's demand for it, and after all they do offer a 900 number blocking service (in fact, most providers block 900 numbers by default nowadays!)




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  Reply # 365029 8-Aug-2010 16:13
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Just thought I would add that I have received a similar quiz txt from 3810 on my Telecom mobile last night. The number on that phone is only known to me and my manager as its my work after hours call out phone so they must be guessing number ranges. Have reported this one to DIA as well.

Does anyone know if Vodafone have done anything about this company?

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  Reply # 365035 8-Aug-2010 16:35
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Likewise, i also received a similar "free msg" from 3810 on my telecom mobile.

Obviously not something that is Vodafones fault, but ill also add my voice (text) to the suggestion of carriers offering a premium SMS blocking service

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  Reply # 365615 9-Aug-2010 20:33
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i feel left out :( None on any of my phones at all.

Will be interesting to find where they got the numbers from since my main number I use on slingshot is all over the place in many websites etc.




Richard rich.ms

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  Reply # 365664 9-Aug-2010 22:12
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I have not had it yet

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