WARNING - scam text from "Debt Line"

[Deleted User]

Hi all,

Just got this text from "Debt Line" (doesn't show a number):

Hi Josie (my name is not josie) Xmas is fast approaching. I can reduce payments on your debts (i don't have any debts) and help free up some cash! Call me 01202266361 ToOptOutTxt'DL'to60006

Obviously I am not going to reply or opt out, I have reported it to o2 (my provider - forwarded it to 7726) but I am worried as to how they have my number and why they are calling me Josie?!

Anyone else who gets this, forward it to your provider's spam/scam reporting service and DO NOT REPLY/CALL/OPT OUT - I have no doubt doing any of these will cost a lot of money.

Grrrrrr!:mad:

BAILEYS6904

If it hasnt got a 5 digit number (shortcode) as the sender it is not chargeable. This is a free marketing message, which 'technically' means either you or someone that has had your mobile number before has not checked the box on some online shop site or whatever to say about recieving messages. A lot of companies sell data so you may have your number listed with, for example, Supermarket A for special offers etc, they can then sell your data on to third partys.

Sounds strange that their opt out is not STOP but 'text DL to 60006'. That would look like more of an opt in, than opt out. I would be tempted not to reply at all

HTH

[Deleted User]

Yeah thanks I have not replied, just deleted the message and blocked the number. Also emailed the company who that numbers website (can't remember what it's called, typical!) says is responsible for 60006 numbers too so hopefully that's the end of it!

Just remembered I wrote off to cancel a credit card last week so maybe they've given my info away? I always check don't share my details etc but i suppose if I've cancelled their service maybe they don't have to abide by that anymore!

Anyway thanks and yes no one reply to them!!!!!

[Deleted User]

ah at 6.30pm they phoned me from a manchester number (this is after I had emailed asking them to sort it out!) and asked to speak to Josie.... told them that the phone doesn't belong to a Josie and now I say thanks for calling because now I can block your number mwhahaha!

Joolz99

I received this text message from Debt Line on friday (1st Oct): "Hi [my actual first name] I urgently need to speak to you about your debts. I work for Debt Line and can help you today. Call now 01202560514 (ToOptOutTxt DL to60006)". I always opt out (or opt in, form depending) to any marketing and have had this number for about ten years - and up until this week have received approximately 2 spam text messages, ever. Suddenly I get a call from a debt management company (I can't remember the name), a text message from Debt Line and now more spam text messages from a scam debt company.

I also contacted the company behind 60006 (Dynmark) who replied to me and put someone from Debt Line in contact - they told me they could supply me with the details of the company they bought my number from - but they haven't yet done it.

Deleted_User, can I take the Manchester number you have (I assume that's for Debt Line?)? It's possible that that could link Debt Line to the other debt spam messages I've been getting.

[Deleted User]

yes i also asked dynmark to provide me with information on how they got my number but I am still waiting.. I doubt I will hear from them as they replied within the hour to my initial email but since I asked for the info I've heard nothing.

the number that phoned me from manchester (I know manchester is 0161 so i pressume 0162 is manchester too or thereabouts?) is 01625870610.

what worries me is that because they used your real name, that maybe someone called josie has given them my number instead of theirs?! I don't know... keep me updated and I will do the same!

Joolz99

A quick google search reveals that number (01625870610) to be a particular problem - it seems to be associated with a company called "fresh start", I don't get why phone networks can't terminate some of these companies services when they're clearly abusing the phone network.

I have a reply from Debt Line and they've given me the name of the company where they've bought by details from - and they've also said they're going to get from them the source - the company which put sold my number on originally.

I'll send you a message with the email of the person I'm dealing with at the Richmond Group (holding company of Debt Line) and hopefully they can do the same for you

[Deleted User]

Joolz99 wrote: »

A quick google search reveals that number (01625870610) to be a particular problem - it seems to be associated with a company called "fresh start", I don't get why phone networks can't terminate some of these companies services when they're clearly abusing the phone network.

I have a reply from Debt Line and they've given me the name of the company where they've bought by details from - and they've also said they're going to get from them the source - the company which put sold my number on originally.

I'll send you a message with the email of the person I'm dealing with at the Richmond Group (holding company of Debt Line) and hopefully they can do the same for you

Yeah I looked up the number and saw all the complaints about it. Thanks that would be great!

mandyl

I keep getting that and they say hi glen
my name is def not glen

Joolz99

Right, so I've had a few updates
The company Debt-Line claims to have bought my number from is
TDMA ("The Data Marketing Agency") LTD (found at tdmaltd . com - I'm guessing I can't still post proper links)
which claims it's located and registered (No. 06735837) at 14 Devizes Road, Old Town, Swindon SN1 4BH

The address given in an email from them is:
Lime Kiln House
Lime Kiln
Wootton Bassett
Wiltshire
SN4 7HF

And they registered their domain at:
Registrant:
Domain Discreet
ATTN: tdmaltd.com
Rua Dr. Brito Camara, n 20, 1
Funchal, Madeira 9000-039
PT
Phone: 1-902-7495331

Unfortunetely Google Steetview doesn't extend to the Swindon location so I can't see whether the office is theirs, but the Wootton Bassett address is a suburban residential cul-de-sac - so this is the kind of company we're dealing with.

Anyway, they claim to have bought my number from a company called "Leadsbank.co.uk" (again, never heard of them, again, no relationship) and also claim not to have sold my number anywhere else.

I've yet to research and pursue Leadsbank.co.uk but every company I find seems more dodgy than the last. Their domain has these registration details:
Registrant:
shweta shweta
Registrant's address:
70 HIG Duplex, Brij Vihar
Ghaziabad
UP
201011
India

My next stop is to contact this company so we'll have to see where this ends.

Joolz99

OK, so after being in contact with TDMA LTD it seems to be a legitimate (well, as legitimate as any of these marketing list companies are...) company - with a registration at Companies House and Data Controller details held by the Information Commissioner's Office.

LeadsBank.co.uk on the other hand - no registration at Companie's House, no listing with the ICO, an anonymous domain registrar located in India and servers hosted in the USA, the only trace of a UK presence is the domain name itself. They do list an address in the UK but no name of any company directors or staff (other than a reference to mark in an email address)

I'm not hopeful that I will get anything out of them whatsoever, I have contacted them (and I do have a few other tricks in my sleave to try out ) so I'm waiting for their response.