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Chat => General Discussion => Topic started by: Batch on May 08, 2011, 21:30:05 PM

Title: Text mesage scam??
Post by: Batch on May 08, 2011, 21:30:05 PM
Alright guys.

About an hour ago, I received a text message supposedly from WWF (with an 078 number appearing) saying something along the lines of:-

"Thanks for setting up a Direct Debit **MR XXXX XXXX** (X being first name and surname) for £15 a month".

Do you think that's a scam?

Your help would be appreciated. If anyone else received this, I would like to hear from you. I didn't ever go on WWF's website to set up anything.

Thanks. 
Title: Re: Text mesage scam??
Post by: Clock'd 0Ne on May 08, 2011, 21:38:13 PM
Sounds scamtastic. You should contact WWF directly and enquire about it.
Title: Re: Text mesage scam??
Post by: Batch on May 08, 2011, 21:42:24 PM
Already have soon as I received it. Apparently got to wait for 5 working days maximum to hear from them.
Title: Re: Text mesage scam??
Post by: Eggtastico on May 08, 2011, 21:56:13 PM
ahem, contact your bank first. then mobile operator & make sure your not being charged for premium text & then wwf
Title: Re: Text mesage scam??
Post by: Batch on May 08, 2011, 22:25:19 PM
Egg, I didn't get it from a premium rate text number. Came from a normal mobile number which in this case started with 078 so I won't be charged for it.
Title: Re: Text mesage scam??
Post by: Eggtastico on May 08, 2011, 22:39:07 PM
Quote from: Batch on May 08, 2011, 22:25:19 PM
Egg, I didn't get it from a premium rate text number. Came from a normal mobile number which in this case started with 078 so I won't be charged for it.
wheres teh scam part if its not asking you to do/confirm anything?
Title: Re: Text mesage scam??
Post by: Batch on May 09, 2011, 00:30:15 AM
Just seems weird that a charity which was WWF would text people telling them that. Wouldnt you? How I recreated the text was similar to that but may have missed part of it cos I deleted the text before I posted here.
Title: Re: Text mesage scam??
Post by: knighty on May 09, 2011, 00:35:51 AM
what was the full number it came from ?  try googling it ?

I get text's like this all the time - maybe once a month/2 months (had the same number for about 15 years) and I always just ignore them.... nothing has ever happened....
Title: Re: Text mesage scam??
Post by: Batch on May 09, 2011, 18:13:50 PM
Could only remember the first 3 digits knighty I'm afraid so wouldn't be any use at all to find on google.

Yeah, I just hope nothing happens and doesn't take anything my bank account otherwise will have to inform them.
Title: Re: Text mesage scam??
Post by: Mongoose on May 11, 2011, 12:34:42 PM
I'd be straight on the phone to my bank to find out if there had been a direct debit set up and to let them know I didn't authorise it if there had.

It's probably one of these where they send an obviously false message to try and illicit a response. If you respond, they know the number is genuine and functional and they flog it to other scammers.
Title: Re: Text mesage scam??
Post by: Batch on May 11, 2011, 23:47:48 PM
You are probably right Mongoose. I didn't reply to it.

However, WWF have got in contact me and said they have no records that I have set up a Direct Debit for that amount at all but are still looking into it as they wanted my address and phone number to check further into their database.

Another thing is that I have had a withheld number phone my mobile minutes later after that text and ended up picking it up as usually do and said "Hello?" and whoever was on other end hung up soon as I said it.
Title: Re: Text mesage scam??
Post by: Leon on May 12, 2011, 08:07:37 AM
Heh can just imagine it... "no sir you don't have a DD with us.... How about we set one up <insert charity speel here>"
Title: Re: Text mesage scam??
Post by: soopahfly on May 12, 2011, 08:28:05 AM
Orange are buggers for this.

I have a brand new PAYG sim, bought direct from Orange not one of these dodgy phone shops....
And within minutes of activating it I get millions from orange, about 3 saying I could claim £XXXXX for a fictitious accident and other associated bollocks.
Title: Text mesage scam??
Post by: Batch on May 12, 2011, 08:28:57 AM
They probably will try their luck with that Dooms. Lol

If they do I'd say no thanks and hopefully not ask again but knowing these charities they will try and keep coming back again and again asking.


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Title: Text mesage scam??
Post by: Batch on May 12, 2011, 08:32:36 AM
Quote from: soopahfly on May 12, 2011, 08:28:05 AM
Orange are buggers for this.

I have a brand new PAYG sim, bought direct from Orange not one of these dodgy phone shops....
And within minutes of activating it I get millions from orange, about 3 saying I could claim £XXXXX for a fictitious accident and other associated bollocks.

If I find out Orange has been passing  my personal details onto third parties then I'll be absolutely livid and be sending a complaint in.

It's not only that, I have a Virgin Media phone line and since having it I get a few misdialed calls a month asking for other people than myself. Grrr!


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Title: Re: Text mesage scam??
Post by: Leon on May 12, 2011, 08:40:11 AM
I'm quite lucky I suppose. I've had my phone number for years and it is all over the internet (blogs, facebook etc etc etc) and the only advertisment text message is like 1 a month from Papa Johns and i'm sure I can opt out of that if I log into the account online. I also can't remember the last sales call I recieved, even from Vodafone.

The landline in the flat is ringing all the time which we all know is sales calls as no-one uses it - really should just unplug it.
Title: Re: Text mesage scam??
Post by: XEntity on May 12, 2011, 14:11:17 PM
Orange don't pass on any details from your account, it doesn't work like that at all, what can end up happening is you get a re-cycled number, but I believe the recycle period is 3 years after being made inactive, however if people still have the details from the last sub, then they could still be sending out messaged based on that old information.

There is an option in the system to make the number ex directory, but I'm not sure if this is even used anymore, as I'm not aware we even have a directory.. If you want me to double check that flag I can, or alternatively phone in to CS and ask then to check. Are you PAYG or PAYM?
Title: Re: Text mesage scam??
Post by: Clock'd 0Ne on May 12, 2011, 15:24:29 PM
I've had my mobile number for about a million years but I still get random spam texts and nuisance calls (even calls from other phone networks) every so often. Some c**tychops somewhere is farming out the details.

In fact I reckon it's Carphone Warehouse and the like, the only way they could get network beating deals would be to use tricks like this...