When A Short Code Is Not A Short Code !

Intasun32

Being a one time victim of unsolicited reverse bill texts I consider myself very careful to whom and where I give my details. I don't download ringtones or wallpaper or games but lo and behold there is no hiding place from these premium rate bandits. I even joined T-Mobile for the main reason that they are the ONLY network that allow its accounts to bar short codes, at least I have found that it works!

A few weeks ago I checked my T-Mobile online usage allowance and was shocked to see 33 entries for the number 100202701 over a period of 6 hours even though I had received no texts or wap messages or made any such calls during this period, at least there was no charge. Even so a scammer had my details and was having a bloody good try to make a profit from it. I sent off an e-mail to T-Mobile asking for details of the sender of this number and details of all the messages. In return I received the standard e-mail giving details of the workings of short codes and premium rate texts and how to STOP them.

I had been on holiday when I received the reply so there was little I could do till today, so checking my account usage I found that between 15 - 18/6 a further 11 entries for text messages for the number 100298102, again I had received no texts or wap messages or made any such calls. I called customer service and spoke to a very sympathetic and helpful lady who informed me that there was no trace of any details on the T-Mobile databank for the two numbers I had received. Surely these texts must have left some trace on the T-Mobile network otherwise how would they be able to show the numbers on my account usage?

The investigation continues.........

deano27_2

Looks very similar to a previous post and perhaps is the same issue and you have some sort of software virus on your phone.

It is a good job you had them barred or you could be suffering a similar fate.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=925755&page

let us know what t mobile come back with:rolleyes:

Looks like other t mobile clients are suffering too.

http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/100202701

Intasun32

@deano27,

Thanks for pointing out the previous thread, one which I even posted on. Mine was a 9 number code as opposed to the victim of that thread which was 14.
I also checked the 'Whocallsme' web site and saw the posts by T-Mobile account holders from April and May so this is not a 'one off' happening, I will point this out to T-Mobile in my letter. I don't think it could by virus related as I use a virus protection program on my Vario 3 but I gave it a full scan and it came up clean.

wantmemoney

Intasun32 wrote:

I also checked the 'Whocallsme' web site and saw the posts by T-Mobile account holders from April and May so this is not a 'one off' happening, I will point this out to T-Mobile in my letter.

@Intasun32 let us know what reply you get, thanks

also i thought it a bit odd that vodafone forum locked of their threads where people had received similar code messages without explaining what they were.

Intasun32

Well after phone calls, letters and e-mails being ignored, on the T-Mobile web site I found the e-mail address of both the MD & CS director. This morning I received a call from a very helpful and knowledgeable young lady from their office. It seems that these numbers are T-Mobile internal service messages for network updates. They are of course non chargeable but for some reason sometimes show up on accounts, something they are to look into.

A black mark to T-Mobile at the time it has taken for someone to get back to me regarding a problem that I feared could have found my details in the data bank of the PRS bandits. A fear that T-Mobile customer service department had totally ignored, at least the MD's office acted quickly.

As they say 'all's well that ends well'. :T