Cell phone SPAM

[RoyJackson]

This seems to be a new trick...at least I've never heard of it before:

ADAMS COUNTY, Pa. -- The next time you get a spam text message on your cellphone, take a closer look.

Richard Spangler, of Adams County, found out the hard way that spam messages could cost you.

In the span of a few weeks, Spangler got eight spam messages.

​

When he looked at his bill, each of the messages cost him $10 each.

"I'm retired. I'm on a fixed income, get Social Security and a modest pension. 80 bucks is a lot of money to me," Spangler said.

When he got the texts, Spangler did what just about every one of us does when we get a spam message, he deleted it. Before you delete the next spam text you get, read it. Text messages are now being sent to cellphones telling you that if you don't respond, your cellphone bill will be charged.

If you get a spam text, reply with "STOP." Otherwise, you could be charged.

Spam messages sent to cellphones from an Internet address or e-mail were banned several years ago. But that ban does not cover messages sent from one cellphone to another.

AT&T


To restrict the sources of email that reach your phone, click here.

To block phone calls and texts from specific 10-digit numbers, click here.

Sprint


To handle spam on a Sprint cellphone, click here.

T-Mobile


To handle spam on a T-Mobile cellphone, click here.

Verizon Wireless


To handle spam on a Verizon Wireless cellphone, click here.

File Complaint


To file a complaint about cellphone spam with the Federal Communications Commission, click here

Read more: Man Receives Costly Spam Text Messages - Pennsylvania News Story - WGAL The Susquehanna Valley

 

[greasemonkeyok]

How could there be a binding contract based on an unsolicited text message that requires an affirmative response to cancel? That just doesn't sound right.

What if the cell phone was just an emergency phone that was never turned on during the time any of the messages were sent?

BTW, thanks for posting the warning Roy.

 

[creekbend]

Thanks for posting. Very informative.:thumbsup:

 

[hawkeye08]

You can call the cell phone provider and block those type of messages. At least on AT&T, you get a code to use when you want to subscribe to something. I got a couple a few months ago and called them, they confirmed what was said above, adjusted my bill and blocked them for me.

 

[Western]

I have only received maybe 2 spam messages, the rest (not many) come from my carrier.

Thanks for the heads up Roy. I usually just delete them too.

 

[blueriver]

I don't have text messaging ... I know I'm out of date!! It would really offend me if I did have it and got spam that cost me!!

 

[rgs03833]

Hi,

If the Phone Number is NOT important to you. Get a Prepaid Phone that way they can't charge you anything. They also Fish your number from sites like Craigslist. What you would do is get only the Minutes you think you would use. If you don't they expired, and once that does, just buy another 30 or 60 or whatever you need. But once you reactivate the phone / new card. You get a new number.

This way you won't get charged and you get a new number without costs

Best thing I found out for myself

 

[grnspot110]

I use AT&T, had them block text messages from my cell because I got tired of them (AT&T) sending me texts trying to sell me something I didn't want, then charging me for the text! ~~ grnspot

 

[Bird]

Hi,

If the Phone Number is NOT important to you. Get a Prepaid Phone that way they can't charge you anything. They also Fish your number from sites like Craigslist. What you would do is get only the Minutes you think you would use. If you don't they expired, and once that does, just buy another 30 or 60 or whatever you need. But once you reactivate the phone / new card. You get a new number.

This way you won't get charged and you get a new number without costs

Best thing I found out for myself

I use a cell phone so little that I dropped the plan that was costing my about $36 a month, including fees and taxes ($29.99 plan) a couple of years ago and went to a prepaid cell phone, but kept my phone number. When I started getting spam text messages, I stopped by an AT&T office, had all texting blocked and the spam charges amount restored to my account.

Now AT&T can, and occasionally, but rarely, send text messages, but there's no charge for messages that they send.

So I now have a 10 cent a minute prepaid phone. If I add money to the account before the expiration date, any remaining old balance carries forward, but the entire balance will expire if you don't add before the expiration date. So I add $25 to the account every 3 months, plus tax (total of $27.27) and right now I have a balance of more than $130.:laughing:

 

[two_bit_score]

Bird, you're building up a sizable savings plan there.

 

[Bird]

Bird, you're building up a sizable savings plan there.

The problem is that there's no refund.:laughing:

 

[Smallplot]

This either works for me or found something that I am lucky about

https://www.donotcall.gov/

 

[RoyJackson]

This either works for me or found something that I am lucky about

https://www.donotcall.gov/

I've registered on this website since 2007 or 2008.
Works pretty good, but there are limitations (doesn't stop "charitable" or "political" calls and if the call originates overseas (India, for example)...well, they can be persistant.
But, it does eliminate the great majority of the telemarketing.

 

[Bird]

Yep, I've been registered there a long time.

 

[grnspot110]

Now AT&T can, and occasionally, but rarely, send text messages, but there's no charge for messages that they send.

They charged me! I was able to get the charges deleted, but don't need the hassle.

Besides, my fingers are too big to text on those little bitty keys!

Don't have much use for texts anyway! Haven't made or received a call on my cell since mid-November! Carry it everyday, in case I need it! ~~ grnspot

 

[DT86]

Great, just something else to deal with.

 

[Bird]

Don't have much use for texts anyway! Haven't made or received a call on my cell since mid-November! Carry it everyday, in case I need it! ~~ grnspot

I'm about the same way. The most frequent use for my cell phone is when I get to the store to get something my wife told me to get and I call to tell her I just discovered they have 5 or 6 brands or flavors, so which one do you want?:laughing: Or she'll call me and ask, "Are you still in the store? I just thought of something else I need.":laughing:

 

[RoyJackson]

I'm about the same way. The most frequent use for my cell phone is when I get to the store to get something my wife told me to get and I call to tell her I just discovered they have 5 or 6 brands or flavors, so which one do you want?:laughing: Or she'll call me and ask, "Are you still in the store? I just thought of something else I need.":laughing:

About the same here, although I have used my phone for work related scheduling and such...