Odd SMS - opinions please.

chartreuse_2

I just received an unsolicited text message on my mobile, which is registered with TPS. It is listed as being from Black Horse (no phone number) and says "Thanks for arranging to see us. Just to confirm your appointment at your local Black Horse office in Crewe is on 28/12/2006 at 14:00"

1: I don't live anywhere near Crew.
2: I do not have and have never had any dealings with Black horse.

Wrong number? Or something more sinister?

Brindle_2

If you have had no dealing with this company then ignore it.

Someone else is going to miss their appointment though, they should have put down their correct number!!

If it comes up again go into a local Black horse near you when you are next near them and politely enquire as to why they have your number.

wantmemoney

Wrong number? Or something more sinister?

Are "you pay as you go" or do get an itemised bill. You may want to contact your mobile operator to see if you were charged for the text.

It sounds like it may be part of another unsolicited reverse billed scam.

Here's an example:
http://www.icstis.org.uk/consumers/adjudications/default.asp?node=&id=557

Complaints were received regarding an unsolicited text message sent to their mobile phones, which charged them 50p for its receipt. It appeared that only customers on the Orange mobile network were targeted.

The message stated – ‘Update: Your services have been modified. Please turn the handset off, then back on, for any changes to take effect’.

Investigation & Decision

Opera Telecom responded to the alleged breaches directly but stated that their information provider was responsible.

They stated that they realised there was a potential problem with this client when they noticed the number of messages that had gone out over their system, 60,043.

Searcher

Sounds more like a wrong number to me.

What number did it come from? Premium rate texts tend to come from a shortcode number and it's the incoming sms that you pay for.

The reverse billing "scams" are rarely that and while Operas methods were questionable they were actually spamming a database of existing users and callers to their premium rate services.

chartreuse_2

Searcher wrote:

What number did it come from? Premium rate texts tend to come from a shortcode number and it's the incoming sms that you pay for.

That's what puzzles me. In place of a number it has "Black Horse". If I click respond there's no reply or call options, just forward.

Kaminari_2

Black Horse Personal Finance
2 Health Shield, Crewe, CW1 6HS
0870 242 7878

pulliptears

I had one the other day, similar thing, no number just the name "Sasha" and message unavailable. Very odd.