Mira Networks - SMS Scam / Spam

A

Abe

Expert Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2005
Messages
4,610
Reaction score
1
Location
Up the creek without a GB
I just received this sms. Obviously a scam/misleading sms but it's worded in a very legitimate way. This has to breach some consumer laws. Can anyone remember the place where you can see who is the sender of these sms's?

"Your account XXXXX shows unclaimed mobile points in March! To redeem send BONUS to 43635. TopSMS/Subscription@R7/day.Optout?TxtStop"

Where XXXXX is my cell phone number. At a quick glance I thought it was an sms from Virgin Mobile.

To me this is just plain fraud and these guys should get blocked/banned/shutdown asap. There are bound to be people who are not wise to the digital age following the instruction to claim their "unclaimed POINTS".
 
Abe said:
I just received this sms. Obviously a scam/misleading sms but it's worded in a very legitimate way. This has to breach some consumer laws. Can anyone remember the place where you can see who is the sender of these sms's?

"Your account XXXXX shows unclaimed mobile points in March! To redeem send BONUS to 43635. TopSMS/Subscription@R7/day.Optout?TxtStop"

Where XXXXX is my cell phone number. At a quick glance I thought it was an sms from Virgin Mobile.

To me this is just plain fraud and these guys should get blocked/banned/shutdown asap. There are bound to be people who are not wise to the digital age following the instruction to claim their "unclaimed POINTS".
Click to expand...

Also received that previously. It doesn't comply legally in a few ways - content misleading, company name/contact details not present etc
 
They are still going on with similar junk. I received the following recently:

Sender: +27 (84) 0044246
Ur Number 08XXXXXXXX has been picked to receive a R750 Mob Voucher in May.Claim ur Reward, send LUX to 44246 mvoucher/Subscription@R7/day.Optout?TxtStop
Click to expand...

The 44246 shortcode ties back to Mira.

I've lodged a complaint for spam with WASPA.
 
morkhans said:
They are still going on with similar junk. I received the following recently:
The 44246 shortcode ties back to Mira.
I've lodged a complaint for spam with WASPA.
Click to expand...

MIRA is the SP (Service Provider) and the IP (Information Provider) appears to be mob-voucher.
EDIT: operated by US Cellcom LLC.
Here's a WASPA complaint about them dating back to December 2011. These WASPA fines doesn't stop these detestable spammers.

They've been spamming for a while now. Here's one from December it seems. The short code there also ties back to Mira.
 
Last edited:
Also got this

Sender +2783921007544362
Ur Number 073xxxxxxx has been picked to receive a R750 Mob Voucher in July. Claim ur Reward, send LUX to 44362 mvoucher.org/subscription@r7/day/optout?txtstop
Click to expand...

No hits on the long number but the 44362 ties back to Mira.
By the way, the part "optout?txtstop" is also a breach of the code of conduct. It's not clear how to exactly optout.
5.1.3...The reply "STOP" procedure should be made clear to the recipient at the start of any messaging service, for example by including "reply STOP to opt out" in the first message sent.
Click to expand...

Any progress on your complaint, Morkhans?
 
No progress. They have a new system where they log an unsubscribe that you can track progress online and it seems to me the WASPs just ignore/delay it. It also seems that WASPA/WASPs are not geared towards spam, just actual subscriptions as my unsubscribe status is "number not found".
 
The entire WASPA Opt-Out scenario is BS! No solution run by the very same organisation you have an issue with is ever going to provide meaningful results - until our option for resolution is independent it‘s meaningless - kinda like approaching the Thieves Guild after a burglary in order to recover your stolen items! .....oops! We do that already don't we? In closing for interest sake - I chose to ‘Opt -Out‘ & dutifully supplied all my details on the National Opt Out site a year or two ago - my wife decided NOT to do so & rather retain her information as confidential & undisclosed - Guess who gets all the Spam & Spit?? .........ME!
 
Had anyone got a solution to this, these guys somehow signed up my dad and now we don't know how to stop it.
 
Last edited:
morkhans said:
They are still going on with similar junk. I received the following recently:



The 44246 shortcode ties back to Mira.

I've lodged a complaint for spam with WASPA.
Click to expand...
Any luck with it? I just had the same message now but with another sms number:

Ur Number xxxxxxxxxx has been picked to receive a R750 Mob Voucher in November. Claim ur Reward, send LUX to 44710 mvou.biz/subscription@r7/day/optout?txtstop
Click to expand...

This came from +278116001501134

Scum of the earth! :mad:
 
I lodge a complaint for spam. The automatic response from WASPA is to log a unsubscribe. Mira then search their database for content subscriptions tided to my number and say "not found" (morons). On the plus I now have a number of such complaints a with unfulfilled unsubscribes so will insist that WASPA turn it into a formal complaint and follow the process.

So unfortunately it's a long term process report, report, report and eventually it will add up.
 
ajax:
I got that exact same message (also edited the last digits of URL) from +27839210075438xx:
Somebody sent you a pic. Open it on www.bzm.tv/mr/xxxxxxx/xXxXXx (FREE MSG) 43890 subscription service R7/day /optout dial 0110621424
Click to expand...

I've already sent a report to WASPA about it (because I got 2 of those kind of messages earlier in October) and here's what they have replied:
An unsubscribe request for mobile number 072-128-xxxx was logged with WASPA on your behalf on 2013-10-23.

We forwarded this request to the following WASPA member(s):
- Mira Networks

According to our records, all of these WASPA members have confirmed that they have either unsubscribed your number from any of the services they run, or they have confirmed that you were not subscribed to any of their services. Based on this, we think that your request has therefore been resolved.
Click to expand...

...then 6 days later, I got the message that I've quoted above.

I haven't clicked on any of these links and I haven't seen any money being deducted from my account yet, but I just don't like this kind of SPAM and believe it is plain fraudulent to ask R7/day!

So now I'm going to respond to that WASPA Email again, because something should be done about these WASPs!

Update:
Email sent to WASPA asking them to change it from a unsubscribe request into a complaint...
 
Last edited:
Looks like there are a number of us with the same problem: Being spammed by Mira, but not being subscribed to any content services. I wonder if there is a way to combine all our complaints so WASPA can acknowledge the size of the problem?
 
morkhans said:
Looks like there are a number of us with the same problem: Being spammed by Mira, but not being subscribed to any content services. I wonder if there is a way to combine all our complaints so WASPA can acknowledge the size of the problem?
Click to expand...
We are trying to find out how the double opt-in system is potentially bypassed. Will report back if we get information.
 
Perhaps this is an issue we as a community - and an influential one at that - within the mobile user space needs to take action. We must interrogate the cellular providers: MTN, Vodacom, Cell C and 8ta take that money and give it over to these scumbags. They should not be allowed to pass the buck here. If they cannot protect their customers, then they must prohibit all these operators from using their networks.
 
GreGorGy said:
Perhaps this is an issue we as a community - and an influential one at that - within the mobile user space needs to take action. We must interrogate the cellular providers: MTN, Vodacom, Cell C and 8ta take that money and give it over to these scumbags. They should not be allowed to pass the buck here. If they cannot protect their customers, then they must prohibit all these operators from using their networks.
Click to expand...

It is the regulator we should be looking to interrogate, he wrote the regulations to allow it or is doing nothing to stop it. ICASA are reactionary, as soon as enough **** hits the fan, they'll be scrambling to put in regulations prohibiting direct billing by WASPS.
 
R13... said:
It is the regulator we should be looking to interrogate, he wrote the regulations to allow it or is doing nothing to stop it. ICASA are reactionary, as soon as enough **** hits the fan, they'll be scrambling to put in regulations prohibiting direct billing by WASPS.
Click to expand...

Sorry - I do not accept that. I entered into an arrangement with MTN to make phone calls. Now, anyone can use that arrangement to bill me extra? Without MTN protecting me? I don't think so. I have a monetary relationship with MTN and they need to prove my spending before they can get my money. Why should I be involved with anyone else?
 
GreGorGy said:
Sorry - I do not accept that. I entered into an arrangement with MTN to make phone calls. Now, anyone can use that arrangement to bill me extra? Without MTN protecting me? I don't think so. I have a monetary relationship with MTN and they need to prove my spending before they can get my money. Why should I be involved with anyone else?
Click to expand...

As long as there is not law preventing it, the WASP will exploit this loop hole. Banks in a away do the same with all these stories of people getting unauthorised debit orders loaded on their accounts. In effect, what the mobile operators are saying is that you agreed to be billed by the WASP because the WASP submit some wishy washy "evidence" that you clicked on a link or replied to their spam.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X