mobile tube?

BellaBargains

I just received a text message - which appears to have come from "mobile tube" and apparently I got charged £150 for the privilege of downloading a video (which I might add I didnt' even manage to watch so didn't even get anything for my money). To be honest I assumed it was something from Orange initially - but obviously that turned out to be wrong - having downloaded it I got another text saying "82442 Mobile Tube: Thanks for downloading the video. blah blah. problems call 08706091720. 150p/vid"

I'm worried that having downloaded this I'm going to get plagued with them and I'm not sure if I'll get charged even if I delete them. I'm not into all this internet on your phone stuff I use it to speak, occasionally text (but I'm rubbish at it) and take photos of my kids.

I haven't signed up to any such service by the way.

Anyone got any advice.

Thanks in advance

storri

Hope you meant 150p, NOT £150 !!!!

Intasun32

BellaBargains wrote: »

I just received a text message - which appears to have come from "mobile tube" and apparently I got charged £150 for the privilege of downloading a video (which I might add I didnt' even manage to watch so didn't even get anything for my money). To be honest I assumed it was something from Orange initially - but obviously that turned out to be wrong - having downloaded it I got another text saying "82442 Mobile Tube: Thanks for downloading the video. blah blah. problems call 08706091720. 150p/vid"

I'm worried that having downloaded this I'm going to get plagued with them and I'm not sure if I'll get charged even if I delete them. I'm not into all this internet on your phone stuff I use it to speak, occasionally text (but I'm rubbish at it) and take photos of my kids.

I haven't signed up to any such service by the way.

Anyone got any advice.

Thanks in advance

If you have never signed up, or requested, this video then I am sorry to have to tell you that you are yet another victim of the scam known as unsolicited reverse bill texts.

The scammers that sent you the text on short code 82442 are:

Venista Ltd
2nd Floor, Berkeley Square House
Berkeley Square
London
W1J 6BD
Tel: 08706 091 720

I advise you to contact them and demand the removal of you details from their data bank or you will continue to receive these costly texts. There is also a good chance that Venista will sell on your details to other scammers and the problems will continue.

Even though Orange earn up to 50% of the scam text cost for collecting payment and passing it onto the scammers, they will deny any responsibility for your problem. They will even tell you that it is all your fault, that you had subscribed to the service even if you haven't.

Go to the Phonepayplus web site and take five minutes to make a complaint about Venista.

You are not alone there are hundreds of thousands of us that have fallen victims to companies like Venista and nobody gives a t**s. Why should they? The networks earn from the scam, the theives earn from the scam and the government take 17.5% VAT. It's only we, mobile phone users, that suffer.

Good luck

:mad: :mad: :mad:

BellaBargains

storri wrote: »

Hope you meant 150p, NOT £150 !!!!

Oops - yes 150p - my bad!

BellaBargains

Intasun32 wrote: »

If you have never signed up, or requested, this video then I am sorry to have to tell you that you are yet another victim of the scam known as unsolicited reverse bill texts.

The scammers that sent you the text on short code 82442 are:

Venista Ltd
2nd Floor, Berkeley Square House
Berkeley Square
London
W1J 6BD
Tel: 08706 091 720

I advise you to contact them and demand the removal of you details from their data bank or you will continue to receive these costly texts. There is also a good chance that Venista will sell on your details to other scammers and the problems will continue.

Even though Orange earn up to 50% of the scam text cost for collecting payment and passing it onto the scammers, they will deny any responsibility for your problem. They will even tell you that it is all your fault, that you had subscribed to the service even if you haven't.

Go to the Phonepayplus web site and take five minutes to make a complaint about Venista.

You are not alone there are hundreds of thousands of us that have fallen victims to companies like Venista and nobody gives a t**s. Why should they? The networks earn from the scam, the theives earn from the scam and the government take 17.5% VAT. It's only we, mobile phone users, that suffer.

Good luck

:mad: :mad: :mad:

Thanks for that, I've done the phonepayplus website thing - are you saying I should write to Venista as well, or phone them. I don't want to end up with a big phone bill for complaining, nor do I want to share my address details with them. Do you think the phonepayplus website complaint is sufficient.

I'm so annoyed - I've had this mobile number for several years, I really don't want to change it.

Intasun32

Don't be annoyed these are pro's that operate within a grey area of the law, and for some reason the police cannot get involved unless requested to do so by Ofcom, PP+ or the networks. As all these parties are earning from the scam, needless to say the police have yet to be asked to get involved.

It is very important that you get your details removed from the data bank of this company for the reasons I have explained. The 08706 number will cost you 12p pm on a landline but I have found an e-mail address for you: [EMAIL="info.uk@venista.com"]info.uk@venista.com[/EMAIL]. If possible give them the date and time of the text, tell them that you have never subscribed to their service and DEMAND (grrrrrr) the removal of your details. Also write a letter of complaint to Orange quoting their reponsibility in this scam. ie: receiving a share of the fraud.

Venista are soon to rebrand to 'Mjoy'

I have also found this info on Mobile Tube:

Domain name:
mobiletube.co.uk

Registrant:
Kulwinder Rai

Registrant type:
UK Individual

Registrant's address:
119
High Street
Bedford
MK44 1PE
GB

Registrar:
Schlund + Partner AG [Tag = SCHLUND]
URL: http://registrar.schlund.info

Relevant dates:
Registered on: 09-Oct-2006
Renewal date: 09-Oct-2008
Last updated: 06-May-2007

Registration status:
Registered until renewal date.

Name servers:
ns45.1and1.co.uk
ns46.1and1.co.uk

WHOIS lookup made at 16:42:02 03-Apr-2008

leftyg

I too received one of these messages and was foolish enough to go to the link, naturally resulting the charge of £1.50 for something I did not download.

A quick net search drew up two email addresses; info@aszventures.com and the above mentioned info.uk@venista.com

I sent both of these an identical email demanding that my details be removed from their databases and giving them one of two options; i) a refund of the amount charged or ii) the content I was purported to have downloaded to be sent to me via email.

Today I received a phone call from 'mobiletube', stating that they were to remove my contents and asking for an address to send a cheque to the value of £1.50. Being at uni it doesn't exceptionally bother me if this address gets targeted once I leave, if the cheque does arrive I shall post my findings.

Chris

woodys_wonders

I too received one of these messages which I foolishly went into and also was charged £1.50 for.
I have emailed the 2 addresses you have listed and now await a response.

Many thanks to all who have given info on this:T

tigger69

Many thanks for the info, recieved one of these a couple of days ago, but had very little credit on my phone, when i added credit, they then took off another £1.50. I will be emailing and complaining to virgin! Thanks again

tigger69

Just had a reply back from the scammers and they have said they will be sending me a cheque - (actually for slightly more than what they knicked) Will only count my chickens when i have recieved it though!

:T to all who had posted about this:beer:

oops nearly forgot while i was searching around for info on scams i found this site http://www.grumbletext.co.uk/viewforum.php?f=1

sure the members will be able to diss or praise as appropriate!

tigger69

Just had a call from my serivce provider - virgin and have been told that Venista is owned by carphone warehouse.:eek:

I was given these numbers to contact 020764885307 and 08706091720.

Also told to text "stop" to these numbers 08243 and
60207

Can't guarantee the above are right as i'd managed to get mine sorted before virgin phoned but they did say they have had a few complaints over the last couple of days and had therefore investigated the situation!