Stop Spam Texts Discussion Area

I use iBlackList which is an iPhone app to block spam texts and calls, it only works on jailbroken iPhones which is unfortunate as it does a great job, intercepting the calls and spam texts before your phone rings so there is no need to pay any attention to them.

Apple block the features it uses though so jailbreaking is necessary :mad:

The 'spammer' enters an agreement with and pays the bulk sms company to send the text messages.

The bulk sms company enters an agreement and pays the Mobile Network Operator to deliver the text messages to their customers.

the whole sham is protected by Ofcom and the ICO

poachers and gamekeepers

There are a few problems with the Stop Spam SMS Article that I’d like to attempt to clarify.

Importantly though, I run a text message company called mediaburst, we hate spam just as much as you do. There is really no place for it in the industry; it destroys what is otherwise a great form of communication.

Legitimate Marketing Messages

Legitimate marketing messages will NOT always carry the senders name and number at the top. The standard way to opt out of a premium SMS is to reply STOP to the 5 digit short code it came from. Because this way of opting out is instant it’s been adopted for non-premium SMS.
So you may indeed receive a legitimate marketing SMS from a 5 digit shortcode or long number because the sender is providing you with an easy way to opt out i.e. reply to the message with STOP and be instantly removed.

On our website we provide guidance for anyone searching for what to do when they receive an SMS from one of our shortcodes, (I'd post a link, but as a newbie to the forum I'm not allowed, go and search google for "SMS 84433" and you'll find it). I wish more suppliers would do the same.

Spam Texts:

Martin suggests they spam by using randomly generated numbers, but this is unlikely to work anymore. Most of the network providers are wise to this and monitor the delivery rate of text messages from any single source. Guessing at random numbers is unlikely to get a high delivery rate and the sender will be cut off. Same applies for lists of consecutive numbers.

Ambulance chasers

The biggest problem we face is that accident, PPI claims, debt write off companies will pay a high rate of commission to receive validated leads. So the spammers will purchase data from one of the hundreds of companies selling data. They then send text messages through legitimate SMS providers, usually the cheapest ones they can find (thankfully not mediaburst). They only need a small response rate of 1% or 2% and the commission they earn will make the whole exercise justified.

Martin suggests that by responding you are validating your number.

Don’t worry about this, they have already validated your number without you responding, and you can't prevent it.

Every single text message sent through a network operator is tracked, and when it gets delivered to a mobile handset your handset sends a message back to the network to say it’s received the message.

This "delivery receipt" message is relayed to the spammer and hence they now know your number is legitimate. If they send to a number that doesn’t exist they receive a message back telling them it doesn’t exist.

My advice:

The clearest indication that it’s legitimate marketing is that somewhere in the message it will clearly identify who sent the message, and you should have heard of them.

If you received it from, or in any place in the message it contains a 5 digit shortcode then DO text STOP to that number. This opt out mechanism is automated and does work, and don’t worry about validating your number, that’s already happened.

Unlike email spam every single text message has to be paid for, if, for example they are trying to generate leads for a PPI or debt reconstruction company then the chances are they’ll be happy to remove you from their list because, if you’re not interested you’re simply a cost they could do without.

Complaining to Network Providers

Many people are unhappy with the response they get when complaining to network providers but don’t let this put you off. Network providers do not want spam and they will help identify the source.

Apologies this turned into a longer post than anticipated. I hope it helps.

On the Main Page i read about Stopping Spam Texts and How to see if it is spam. As a professional within the mobile marketing industry. I would like to make things clear to both consumers and companies reporting on an industry to which they are not being clear.

Mobile Marketing via SMS is an effective way for business to contact consumers either for third party marketing offers or with information such as appointment reminders etc.

A company can contact you with third party marketing messages if they have prior consent, (opt-in), this may have been through lifestyle questionnaires, product registration documents etc, however consumers should always check the privacy policy and terms and conditions regarding the passing of their data to third party companies.

You the Consumer must have provided your details within the past 6 months, in line with the Electronic Communications Act 2003, and the DMA Code of Practice, and OFT Guidelines.

This website is correct with some information, the sender must have their company name within the body of the text message, and if contacted by the consumer must provide information as to where they obtain the consumers mobile number.

This website states that SPAM texts come from long numbers, which look like typical mobile numbers. That is absolute rubbish!! There are two types of sms marketing messages, Bulk SMS, and 2 -Way SMS. These can come from either a 5 digit short-code as the sender ID (from) a 11 character name, or a long number (which looks like a mobile number) a long number does not mean it is spam, it means that replies can be detected by the mobile networks and delivered to the company which has sent the message (this includes Stop Requests/opt outs).

I understand that the article was written with some mis-guided information, they think everyone is causing consumer harm, instead of educating the consumer. There are companies out there that have been using illegal practices to send bulk sms messages which look like coming from a typical mobile number, products like SMS Caster which enable you to put a sim card into a computer. but there are 1,000's of reputable companies which use reputable network connections which routes include long numbers.