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schwa
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap
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 Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2005 4:53 am Post subject: whats this? weird invitations |
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I keep getting these emails that say "Simply click the link below to confirm your relationship with ...."
I'm dubious. They are all people I know but whats the deal? This is the site's address: SMS.ac, Inc., 7770 Regents Road, Suite 113-405, San Diego, CA 92122 USA
Maybe I'm paranoid, or just cautious. Holding off till I get input. |
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Derrek
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2005 5:44 am Post subject: |
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Don't bother.
I think it's that spam mail thing that asks me to join other people's SMS network or something. I think it somehow gets people's address books. |
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tzechuk
Joined: 20 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2005 5:47 am Post subject: |
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Don't sign up anything with SMS.ac... it's full of spyware.
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More of a scam than a hoax, and hence more of a warning than a comment! you'll probably get an email from a friend at some stage inviting you to join- needless to say its not actually from them, twill be hacked from their hotmail or yahoo account. they promise all kinds of fun free goodies one you register your mobile- don't be fooled, they just send you crappy messages which cost YOU money. don't sign up, just delete the emails!
for those of you with selective reading issues: DO NOT SIGN UP |
Another one:
http://www.unleadedonline.net/uo-243-1.html
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SMS.AC – An Internet Scam to the Extreme (Funnily enough if you rearrange the letters and you get 'SCAMS')
There's a new spam n' scam going around, unfortunately unlike most spams that you receive, it really isn't that obvious - At least not to some people.
Before I get into the nitty gritty, I'm going to have a quick bitch about the fact that I find it unbelievable and slightly depressing, the number of people that still manage to trust 'internet businesses' which come out with 'freebies', and even funnier, some who still hold onto the belief that you can get something for nothing these days - and everybody can be a winner.
No, I'm sorry to break it too you, but the zero sum formula of economic gain exists for a reason. Somebody has to pay, and it's usually you.
Now while spam assassin quite happily nukes the hundreds of *beep* enlargement, Viagra, Ch3aP s0ftware and WORK AT HOME emails I receive a week - It hasn't managed to block the dozen or more 'From Somebody: Invitation and new email address' SMS.AC spam emails that I have been receiving.
So what's the deal?
Well quite simply SMS.AC is a scam, if you receive an email inviting you to join them, and you do (which requires your mobile number), it's over. What you should of done is just deleted the email, and sent the poor sucker who joined up and spammed your inbox, a link to here.
Put simply, this fraudulent 'internet media company' will deduct $3.00 from your mobile phone account for every 3 messages you receive through them. They will then send you an sms every day containing advertising so that you are automatically billed for $3.00 every 3 days*! The charges will come under "SMS Content" (Technically not an advertisement, but a 'Premium SMS').
Oh and by the way, while sending the odd SMS through this scam might be free - The receiver pays 50 cents*.
So what can you do?
Apart from growing older and if possible, slightly wiser - A first point of call would probably be a call to your mobile provider. The second is usually the ACCC, but the reality is they can't do anything, as the company is outside their jurisdiction (Read: Not Australian). Lastly you could try your luck sending the 'CANCEL' SMS Command to them - this costs money though.
So in summary, the criminals who started this are making more money than you could possibly imagine - the market of naive people is a big one, so you have to admire them in that respect. Well not really, but I digress.
For further information, have a read of:
'Stay away from sms.ac' discussion at WhirlPool (Used in reference)
RipOffReport: SMS.AC - The most interesting example of a criminal business model.
Definition of a Scam
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eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
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| Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2005 6:11 am Post subject: |
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I get those SMS things all the time. Apparently from the people in my Contacts.
I even tried actually going to the website and sending a text to a friends phone in Seoul. It doesn't work!!! |
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hypnotist
Joined: 04 Dec 2004
Location: I wish I were a sock
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| Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2005 10:48 pm Post subject: |
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| eamo wrote: |
I get those SMS things all the time. Apparently from the people in my Contacts.
I even tried actually going to the website and sending a text to a friends phone in Seoul. It doesn't work!!! |
I'm fairly sure it's GSM only.
You can, just about, make it work for you. I would be using it now were I not in Korea. It's pretty daft to give them full access to your email account, though. |
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