Warning: mobile phone scam
March 23rd, 2010 | Posted by Admin
This warning was issued by Leicestershire Police:
A virgin mobile customer recently received a free SMS text message from 88989 asking her simply to reply with the text “OK” which she did. The message mentioned a Helpline 0808 234 1402 which she believed to be a premium rate line and therefore did not try it.
Her reply resulted in her receiving a text message, which stated GBP 1.5, and asking her a question about how Christmas was celebrated in Brazil. It also stated that she would receive a maximum of five such messages a day.
The customer contacted Virgin and they investigated advising her immediately to send a text to 88989 in upper case letters “STOP ALL”. In reply she received confirmation that her membership had been cancelled.
Soon afterward Virgin got back to her with information which led to her discovering that the beneficiary of the money raised is a company called FUN MOBILE with contact email: support@winstuffhereuk.com and a Helpline 0808 234 1402 as before.
Please do not respond to any text messages unless you know the sender. If you receive a message of this nature please contact your local Trading Standards for advice about the message. Trading Standards through the Consumer Direct Team on 08454 04 05 06.
