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Jeff,

That's what I call investigative journalism!

Can hardly wait for the report as I know victims of this scam.

udaman!
victor

Victor J Liew says "That's what I call investigative journalism!"

Err Victor, Jeff havent published anything yet leh. Unless you are subscribe to somekind of paid services and have read the series, isnt it kinda early to give praises?

I did not subscribe to any SMS service. Yet I'm still getting all sort of SMS promotion. Any one know how to block all these nonsense?

Dear Jeff,
Most of the time I just delete the offending SMS and hope that my prepaid won't be deducted for that. What would you uncover & who're the brains behind this scam will surely make an interesting expose. Is the MCMC aware of these scams?

Hi Jeff,

I'm looking forward to your expose of the whole 3xxxx industry. Since last March, my handset has been inundated with these unwanted messages and every time, I've had to complain to MCMC about it. I must acknowledge that MCMC had always responded and channelled my complaints to Maxis. But of course, the matter will stop there with Maxis deciding to be "magnaminous" and reverse the charges in my account. However, it's not the amount. It's the principle behind this issue. Both the MCMC and the telcos seem to be taking a hands-off approach by not doing more. Why not investigate the companies perpetrating this nonsense? Slap them with a heavy fine for abuse of facilities. Shut them down, if need be. Stop this service if necessary. Regretfully, none of this will happen. That's why I'll fully support your investigation into this. But I tell you, nothing will still happen. BTW, Maxis' call centre had the nerve to call me yesterday evening to inform me that on 24 April at about 7.50am or so (I can't remember the time exactly), I had subscribed to one such service with my mobile. 24 April is a working day and I was halfway across the Penang Bridge with my mobile in the pocket. And they claimed that their record was correct. Huh!!

SS Quah
Penang, Malaysia
ssquah.wordpress.com

I should also add that while I can live with email spams - I just delete them without reading - I draw the line with SMS spams. They cost money to me and, I'm sure, to everyone else who receive them.

SS Quah
Penang, Malaysia
ssquah.wordpress.com

hi jeff, this is what happened to me.

I got a suprise on 4th of march, when i received one sms from MOBILE365 saying that i had suscribed to their service (the first sms i received, it said that it's free but on the bill i was charged RM 0.30). anyway, i didn't reply the STOP option because if it's spam, replying can only hurt you.

so i carry on living a normal life, everything was fine and dandy until 16th of March when i received a MMS from MT&T? It was stated there that for that MMS i was charged RM2. (later on - in the bill i was charged RM4, wtf).

by that time i already lost the first sms from MOBILE365 on how to stop it. so i thought to myself if this came up in the bill i'm going to call maxis.

i received 2 more 'external content' sms charged RM 2 for each. by that time, 22nd of march i called maxis and they put a block on "external content provider". i waited for my bill to came to dispute the charges. and yes! it was here:

http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/1114/maxisyc2.jpg

so just now (Mon Apr 02, 2007 10:27 pm) i called maxis again, 123, and then press 1 and then 6, the guy listened to my GRIEVANCES and said that he'll waived me the RM 8.30 in next month' bill.

it's not about the money actually, but the reality that the amount of money if you are able to charge every maxis customer of RM 2/RM4/RM8 without their will, is god damn daylight robbery. if it were more severe i would find this mobile365 and give their office a visit 8)

maxis postpaid customers: call 123 and block external content provider right now! you don't want to go through the hassle unless of course you are working for mobile365.

Yes Content Provider is easy to exploit SMS users because they can just send SMS to any number (without any consent whatsoever) and get the charge - well technically speaking. And Maxis/Celcom/Digi don't seem to have the incentive to increase the security in that manner because they are the one who reap quite big percentage of the charge. I know this because I had been doing SMS programming for a few months - it is actually easy ;)

I was a victim of one of these scams. Trying to unsubscribe came to nought even with the help of DIGI and complain to MCMC via their website was of no help either. I was made to pay for the service that I did not subscribe and which I refused to pay. It was a daily affair receiving smses at 50 sen each. In frustration the only way out was to cancell the mobile line.

hi jeff.

to follow up on my post, i checked my april bill to see if i got the RM8.30 waived. guess what, tough luck, i did not get anything waived. i double checked to confirm.

i got this instead:
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/6274/maxisaprilyq9.jpg

jeff, i am willing to send you a copy of my bill statement for march and april if you need evidence.

JEFF OOI says: Yes, I do need your bills for evidence. Please email me.

and the next time i'm calling maxis i will record the voice conversation.

everyone let's fight this.