Allegedly free SMS - but can someone help me work out this small print? Scammy?

In message <[email protected]>, Jonathan
<[email protected]> writes
>"Martin Jay" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> That's probably the most useless service I've ever heard of.
>>
>> Looks like their security isn't very good, either. I've just visited the
>> website and someone called Jade (00447790******) is in the address book!

>I've just refreshed a few times and picked up nearly 30 random numbers -
>Andy, Jake, Dean, Bob, Sophie, Dad etc etc
>
>I spoke to Andy and Jake as I'm now following up to Ofcom and You and
>Yours - Andy realised it was a scam only after the 500p charge, Jake hadn't
>even realised the charge was there. Both VERY unhappy, but happy I called,
>and they are going to follow up to http://www.ofcom.org.uk/

To be fair, though, they do mention the charges to the recipient.

But I think it's misleading because it suggests to the sender that it's
a free service, and even asks for a donation to keep it free.

And for the recipient it's almost as if the message is being held
hostage until they pay a fee.
--
Martin Jay
Phone/SMS: +44 7740 191877
Fax: +44 870 915 2124

---

› See More: Allegedly free SMS - but can someone help me work out this small print? Scammy?

"Martin Jay" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> To be fair, though, they do mention the charges to the recipient.
>
> But I think it's misleading because it suggests to the sender that it's a
> free service, and even asks for a donation to keep it free.
>
> And for the recipient it's almost as if the message is being held hostage
> until they pay a fee.

Any chance you could let me know the EXACT text that the recipient gets?

ASAP please - thanks

How long did it take, BTW? I'm trying to test it on an empty SIM, and it
hasn't arrived in 5 minutes.
No WAY I'm using my real number, what with the whole world being able to see
it, AND the joy of possibly being charged £5!

"Jonathan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Martin Jay" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>> To be fair, though, they do mention the charges to the recipient.
>>
>> But I think it's misleading because it suggests to the sender that it's a
>> free service, and even asks for a donation to keep it free.
>>
>> And for the recipient it's almost as if the message is being held hostage
>> until they pay a fee.
>
> Any chance you could let me know the EXACT text that the recipient gets?
>
> ASAP please - thanks
>
> How long did it take, BTW? I'm trying to test it on an empty SIM, and it
> hasn't arrived in 5 minutes.
> No WAY I'm using my real number, what with the whole world being able to
> see it, AND the joy of possibly being charged £5!

Just spoke to someone else, this is the txt they received:

"Mike has sent you a text. Send read <number> to 60999 to receive this
message or visit www.sms-txt.co.uk
Cost 500p non subscription"

Here's how the call went: "...and did you realise that the message cost you
£5 to receive?"
Sara: "No ....ing way - is this a wind up?"
Me: "No, can you read the full message to me?"
Sara: "....cost 500p non subscription. ****. How much is - that's like £5 or
something. Have they charged me that?"
Me: "Can you check your balance?"
They have to hang up, I call back a minute later
Sara: "They took it. I'm well pissed off about that. I'm going to kill my
boyfriend!"

They were even more pleased to find that their name and number were
plastered over the internet!

In message <[email protected]>, Jonathan
<[email protected]> writes
>"Martin Jay" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>
>> To be fair, though, they do mention the charges to the recipient.
>>
>> But I think it's misleading because it suggests to the sender that it's a
>> free service, and even asks for a donation to keep it free.
>>
>> And for the recipient it's almost as if the message is being held hostage
>> until they pay a fee.
>
>Any chance you could let me know the EXACT text that the recipient gets?
>
>ASAP please - thanks

From: +447800002127

sdfds has sent you a text, send 'READ 17992' to 60999 to receive this
message,or visit www.sms-txt.co.uk?17992, cost 500p non subscription


sdfds is the 'fake' name I used. And, presumably, 17992 is the unique
id for the message and will change each time. Message was copied by
hand because I can't connect his phone to my PC, but I believe it's
accurate: "message,or" is as it appear in the original.

>How long did it take, BTW? I'm trying to test it on an empty SIM, and it
>hasn't arrived in 5 minutes.

It only took a few seconds to arrive here. The online system is
hopeless. I'm surprised anyone can get it to work. I just keep getting
a list of other people's numbers.
--
Martin Jay
Phone/SMS: +44 7740 191877
Fax: +44 870 915 2124

"Martin Jay" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> From: +447800002127
>
> sdfds has sent you a text, send 'READ 17992' to 60999 to receive this
> message,or visit www.sms-txt.co.uk?17992, cost 500p non subscription
>
> sdfds is the 'fake' name I used. And, presumably, 17992 is the unique id
> for the message and will change each time.

From the number the people I spoke to gave me, these numbers are sequential,
so if someone with a nicked mobile was so minded, he could
'READ 17992'
'READ 17993'
'READ 17994'
'READ 17995'
and therefore read personal texts.

> Message was copied by hand because I can't connect his phone to my PC, but
> I believe it's accurate: "message,or" is as it appear in the original.
>
>>How long did it take, BTW? I'm trying to test it on an empty SIM, and it
>>hasn't arrived in 5 minutes.
>
> It only took a few seconds to arrive here. The online system is hopeless.
> I'm surprised anyone can get it to work. I just keep getting a list of
> other people's numbers.

Thanks for the info. I spoke to ICSTIS - no help at all.

For each point I made:

* "The site tells the recipient that 'Standard text messages are free, other
messages the recipient would be charged 500p.'"

ICSTIS just didn't get my point that, to me at least, a standard text
message would be, to most people's minds, not an "other" message.
They said this wording was fine! Is it just me???

* Would a 12 year old getting a message "mum has sent you a text, send 'READ
17992' to 60999 to receive this message" REALLY bother to scroll down, and
then understand that 500p was £5?

ICSTIS said the warning was there, and that it says "Users must be 16+".
However, this is users of the SITE. It DOESN'T say "the recipient must be
16+"
Therefore, this condition was fine by them too.

* As far as other people's names and numbers appearing randomly...

Again, this didn't seem to bother ICSTIS. "Probably just an error on the
internet or something". On this point, I suppose site privacy isn't their
problem or area.

But really...if ICSTIS aren't there for this kind of thing, then what ARE
they doing???
At least a few more people have the number 0800 500212 to complain to!