text - spam or not???

LegacyUser

Boyfriend got a text message that read something along the lines of "for a fun time call this number etc........" you can imagine the rest. Just wondering has anyone ever received a text like that previously or do you think you would have to register your number somewhere or signup effectively??

Squiggler

most likely spam - what was the number he was encouraged to call?

From time to time such messages are sent with Premium Rate (15xx prefixed) numbers included.

He could report the incident to the Data Protection Commissioners, and also, if it contains a premium rate number, to ComReg (Commission for Communication Regulation).

Fittle

So the bottom line here is he got one of these texts, you think he signed up to a 'dating' or s*x chat type thing - he says he didn't, and that he got it completely randomly, without texting any other number in advance.

Firstly, how did you see the text OP? Did he show it to you?
Secondly, neither myself nor any of my friends nor any of my family, who all have mobile phones, have ever received a random spam text (email, yes, millions of them) without first, previously signing up for a service. That's just my experience, but others might have received them.

S23

It could quite easily be a spam text. I get them the odd time. If you've ever filled in your mobile details on a form for a raffle or something online etc... there is every chance your details have been sold on to various companies who then proceed to contact you with their various wares.

Lady von Purple

I've never gotten them but my boyfriend has. (He showed it to me, before anyone asks.) It was odd, but that's about it. There could be a less than innocent explanation behind the OP's quandry, but I know that some people do get these spam texts and that's the more likely answer here! I wouldn't worry about it OP.

IrishEyes19

Could also be his lad friends messing with him. Horrible I know, but I wouldn't put it past any group of young lads!!! :rolleyes:

LegacyUser

Op here, I happend to be right next to him when the message came through - I caught a glimpse and he had no other choice but to show me. I find it hard to believe that such an explicit message would be sent randomly, surely this cannot happen - this could have been a young childs phone number!!!

m'lady

I know of an older man that was hassled with these sort of texts, and was also being charged for them. A lot of these companies that run sex lines also run competition lines, so if you entered a 'competition' that do be advertised on tv to text in your reply, they have your number.

So yes you can get these sort of random texts, and you can report it to Comreg, they will sort it out pretty quick.

Kimia

He's definitely signed up for something, maybe unknowingly, for them to send messages to him. More than likely some porn website. Did he deny it?

Zen65

turtleneck wrote: »

Op here, I happend to be right next to him when the message came through - I caught a glimpse and he had no other choice but to show me. I find it hard to believe that such an explicit message would be sent randomly, surely this cannot happen - this could have been a young childs phone number!!!

I have received explicit text messages from unknown numbers just once or twice. Certainly there was no reason for anybody to have my phone number to be advertising a service like that, though I have given my phone number as a contact number for many competitions, hotel reservations, flights, pizza delivery, etc online. So it's very possible that your OH is absolutely innocent of any wrongdoing.

Be at peace,

Z

S23

Kimia wrote: »

He's definitely signed up for something, maybe unknowingly, for them to send messages to him. More than likely some porn website. Did he deny it?

Yes he's definitely signed up for something along the way. To say it's more than likely porn is complete bullsh*t. I can assure you that many,many,many companies have sold on personal information from previous clients (a client could be someone who simply filled in a form) to various companies who want such information.

It's not uncommon and it's not sinister. Thats not to say the person is this case is squeaky clean but to suggest that 'more than likely some porn website' is the answer is f*king rubbish.

The British Government has been caught selling private info ffs.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/henryporter/2008/nov/04/civilliberties-idcards

Thats a government selling information about it citizens. Nevermind some company shifting info to make a few quid.