WARNING if somebody has asked for this code they are a criminal (from NatWest for Amazon purchase)

GustyGardenGalaxy

This is peculiar - NatWest SMS received when I made a purchase from Amazon who sent a confirmation code (as they do from time to time) but phrased very differently:

WARNING if somebody has asked for this code they are a criminal. Code: xxxxx confirms a purchase on your card of x.xx GBP to Amazon

The code worked just fine and my Amazon order was approved. I placed the order by navigating to Amazon as usual, didn't get there via a dodgy link, etc.

What puzzles me is the way that this is phrased. Am I missing something? Or is Amazon a criminal now? (some would say yes, but I digress ........... ).

Shakin_Steve

That seems perfectly fine to me. The warning is about someone who has called you and asked you to read back the code to them.

Lions_89

Yes because some customers are very dim and it must be explained firmly.

sausage_time

I see a more and more companies doing this.  O2 for example send two text messages - one is the warning not to share (etc), short delay, then the code needed.  

Barkin

sausage_time said:

I see a more and more companies doing this.  O2 for example send two text messages - one is the warning not to share (etc), short delay, then the code needed.  

Seems a bit pointless. What if the "first" text doesn't arrive until after the one with the code ?

Shakin_Steve

Barkin said:

sausage_time said:

I see a more and more companies doing this.  O2 for example send two text messages - one is the warning not to share (etc), short delay, then the code needed.  

Seems a bit pointless. What if the "first" text doesn't arrive until after the one with the code ?

They know when you've read a message.

Barkin

Shakin_Steve said:

Barkin said:

sausage_time said:

I see a more and more companies doing this.  O2 for example send two text messages - one is the warning not to share (etc), short delay, then the code needed.  

Seems a bit pointless. What if the "first" text doesn't arrive until after the one with the code ?

They know when you've read a message.

So they rely on read receipts?  And if they're not enabled? 

oldernonethewiser

Shakin_Steve said:

Barkin said:

sausage_time said:

I see a more and more companies doing this.  O2 for example send two text messages - one is the warning not to share (etc), short delay, then the code needed.  

Seems a bit pointless. What if the "first" text doesn't arrive until after the one with the code ?

They know when you've read a message.

I have never had read receipts enabled on any phone so unless there is another way no one will know I have read their message.  Is there another way?

grumbler

Barkin said:

Shakin_Steve said:

Barkin said:

sausage_time said:

I see a more and more companies doing this.  O2 for example send two text messages - one is the warning not to share (etc), short delay, then the code needed.  

Seems a bit pointless. What if the "first" text doesn't arrive until after the one with the code ?

They know when you've read a message.

So they rely on read receipts?  And if they're not enabled? 

They know that it was delivered, that's sufficient in this case.

..., there’s no way of knowing the text message has actually been read, only that it has arrived in the person’s SMS inbox.

https://thesmsworks.co.uk/blog/sms-delivery-reports/

Shakin_Steve

grumbler said:

Barkin said:

Shakin_Steve said:

Barkin said:

sausage_time said:

I see a more and more companies doing this.  O2 for example send two text messages - one is the warning not to share (etc), short delay, then the code needed.  

Seems a bit pointless. What if the "first" text doesn't arrive until after the one with the code ?

They know when you've read a message.

So they rely on read receipts?  And if they're not enabled? 

They know that it was delivered, that's sufficient in this case.

..., there’s no way of knowing the text message has actually been read, only that it has arrived in the person’s SMS inbox.

https://thesmsworks.co.uk/blog/sms-delivery-reports/

Yes, sorry, that's what I meant. I wasn't very clear.

Shakin_Steve

Barkin said:

sausage_time said:

I see a more and more companies doing this.  O2 for example send two text messages - one is the warning not to share (etc), short delay, then the code needed.  

Seems a bit pointless. What if the "first" text doesn't arrive until after the one with the code ?

If the first text doesn't arrive until after the first (and I can see no reason why that should happen) and you read out the code to someone, then you should be banned from having a bank account. It's not as if it hasn't been in the news.