"You've won!" Text scam in the paper

Sleipnir

From Unison.
There have been a few posts about these texts from people asking if it was a scam.
They most certainly are.



MOBILE phone users are being charged up to €100 a time in vain attempts to claim cash prizes promised by mysterious text messages.

Phone owners are being contacted with text messages telling them that they have won a cash prize and inviting them to dial a number to play.

However, the game appears to breach at least two clauses of a new code of conduct designed to protect consumers from mobile phone scams as well as appearing to offer no actual winnings.

When the Irish Independent played the game, 'Four's a Fortune', it won €20 but was billed €97 for around 10 minutes.

When contacted yesterday about the game, Data Protection Commissioner John Meade said he was probing a number of firms suspected of breaking new data protection laws.

The game appears to breach a code of conduct by failing to identify the service provider, and by failing to provide a helpline number or opportunity to speak directly to a person. Players who dial a 1580 number are invited to stay on the line and continue playing a game answering questions before they can collect winnings. Over the course of 10 minutes, the Irish Independent was advised it was clocking up winnings which eventually totalled €20. No opportunity was given to opt out and claim the rising prize total.

At the end of the call, an automated voice said winnings had not reached a 'cash-in level' and the final charge was €97. It offered a chance to play again.

Mr Meade said he is probing a number of cases involving companies sending unsolicited text messages. New regulations clamping down on 'spam' texts came in last November, prohibiting unsolicited text messages without the prior consent of phone users.

Firms had previously been freer to send messages to phone users. Breaches can attract fines of €3,000 for each message sent.

Mr Meade said: "It's my intention to prosecute once we have investigated matters. I cannot stop a text being issued but customers should be extremely wary. There is a certain amount of gullibility."

He said investigations were focused on two to three different firms, including one which may be operating outside of the EU.

The probes come against the backdrop of new forms of 'spam' messaging in the UK where the British telephone services watchdog has received thousands of complaints about a scam known as "missed call marketing".

It involves firms bombarding users with "missed call" messages on the screen. Callers hear a message telling them, for example, they have won a prize and urging them to call another number charged at a premium rate of about stg£1.50 a minute.

Meanwhile, Mr Meade said his office had brought its first two prosecutions under new data regulations on Tuesday and yesterday, involving legal firms which had not registered with his office. Costs were awarded in favour of the commissioner and the probation act applied.

Genghis

Not for one minute wishing to defend these operators, I want to question the €97 charge the Independent claims. Calls to 1580 numbers are charged at €1.90 a minute, inclusive of VAT (see here for details). Either the call was 10 minutes and he charge was €19.00, or the charge was indeed €97.00 and the call lasted over 51 minutes.