606106xxx

[Dairyfarmer]

I was charged R1.61 each for 3 sms's to 606106xxx (not a mistake - no country code). All three were within one minute of each other.

I have checked on the phone and with MTN and I am not subscribed to any content services.
I did check all the opt out settings and content services limits set to R0 as per previous articles on MyBB about rouge WASP's.
No sms's were sent from the phone.
The sim was put into a factory reset phone that was setup with an existing Google account just before the sms's went through.

I had a chat to MTN and they have no info on that number at all. I ask them who they gave my money to and they said they are unable to tell me. They just don't know. I also checked on smscodes.co.za and no info.

MTN told me to sms STOP to that number, but couldn't tell me if I would be charged further.

Useless as expected. I managed to get a reference number from MTN and confirmed the call was recorded.

Anyone know where this number originated? I'm aware of 5 digit short codes and 15 digit numbers, but never seen a 9 digit number without any country code. A Google search for that number has nothing without a country code.

Maybe MyBB could follow up on where this number originates and why MTN say they can not do anything and then sends international SMS's without an international code present. Also why MTN charges 1c per sms more than advertised.

 

[RedViking]

123456789

 

[ABCpt]

Maybe an app which reinstalled once the google account logged in. Some apps use sms to verify identity. Normally the sms is to you, but guess some clever developer could do this to try and make money. See which apps have permission to send sms and investigate those.

 

[genetic]

Some apps send verification messages which you are charged for;

 

[Dairyfarmer]

Only the basic of apps were installed and updated, without a sim card (over wifi) and data has remained off. I did go through all the apps in the Play Store that wanted to be installed and killed all of them so they wouldn't install.

Still want to know what number that is.

 

[Dairyfarmer]

Found out what happened. The sms was sent to 060 610 6xxx but the sender left the +27 or 0 off, so MTN decided that it needed to go to Malaysia (+60 610 6xxx) even though no international codes were present. Hence the R1.61 charge, which should have actually been R1.60. So MTN steals 1c from you on every international SMS you send.

 

[quovadis]

Found out what happened. The sms was sent to 060 610 6xxx but the sender left the +27 or 0 off, so MTN decided that it needed to go to Malaysia (+60 610 6xxx) even though no international codes were present. Hence the R1.61 charge, which should have actually been R1.60. So MTN steals 1c from you on every international SMS you send.

Lol. No, MTN decided it should go to the number entered. The R1.61 is the international OOB sms international charge on some plans.

 

[Dairyfarmer]

R1.60 is the international SMS rate for the price plan the person is on, not R1.61.

I was under the impression that dialing international numbers from SA required + country code (i.e. +44 xx xxx xxxx) or 00 country code (i.e. 00 44 xx xxx xxxx)