Cell C handling number porting

[ToxicBunny]

This is just a warning to everyone who has a cell c number. They seem to have absolutely no double check process on a number port request.

I just moved my number to Telkom and I followed their process. They send me a code and they input it on their side to start the porting process. Cell c are then supposed to notify me a port request has been initiated and then to send me a message that I respond to to approve the port. This didn't happen and my number just ported.

Just thought people should be aware of this since this is a huge gaping hole that identity thieves can exploit and expose your bank stuff as well

 

[ginggs]

Just thought people should be aware of this since this is a huge gaping hole that identity thieves can exploit and expose your bank stuff as well

Thanks for alerting the potential identity thieves of this gaping hole.

You should have reported this to Cell C first in order to give them a chance to fix the problem.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Thanks for alerting the potential identity thieves of this gaping hole.

You should have reported this to Cell C first in order to give them a chance to fix the problem.

How can they fix the problem since it has already happened? The people that can take advantage of this already know about it.

I also have experience with their call center and contact points. They are universally incompetent so there is no point

 

[cavedog]

This is not new. It's been like this since porting was allowed.

Telkom, Cellc and Virgin Mobile does not require you to confirm the port from your side.

What is more shocking is service providers that does not do any number checking to confirm that the number actually belongs to you for example a otp sent to your number.

MTN in store porting, Virgin Mobile, Me&You Mobile, FNB Mobile

Now add the two together and you can steal a cellc number without the owner knowing at all and the receiving network does not even know the number does not belong to you because they did not do the check.....

 

[ToxicBunny]

This is not new. It's been like this since porting was allowed.

Telkom, Cellc and Virgin Mobile does not require you to confirm the port from your side.

What is more shocking is service providers that does not do any number checking to confirm that the number actually belongs to you for example a otp sent to your number.

MTN in store porting, Virgin Mobile, Me&You Mobile, FNB Mobile

Now add the two together and you can steal a cellc number without the owner knowing at all and the receiving network does not even know the number does not belong to you because they did not do the check.....

Boggles the mind really,

With this little bit of info, I am surprised that identity theft and emptying bank accounts doesn't happen considerably more often...

 

[Cell_C]

Hi everyone

As per the Mobile Number Portability Regulations, the recipient network, in this case Telkom, must validate the port request and make sure the port is valid.

The MNP process is recipient led (thus the network to which the customer is porting) and the donor network should not make contact with the customer to validate the port request as per Regulations. Therefore the statement that “Cell C are then supposed to notify me a port request has been initiated and then to send me a message that I respond to to (sic) approve the port” is factually incorrect and contrary to the relevant regulations.

So for example when Cell C receives a request from a customer to port a number into Cell C then Cell C is responsible to validate the port request.
In Cell C’s case, when a customer submits a request to port into Cell C, up to eight messages (depending on the port request medium used) including one informing the customer that we have received a request to move to Cell C. If a customer did not request the port, a hotline number is provided as one of the messages which the customer can contact free of charge.
Our competitors should also have processes to properly validate port requests into their networks.

Cell C team

 

[ToxicBunny]

Hi everyone

As per the Mobile Number Portability Regulations, the recipient network, in this case Telkom, must validate the port request and make sure the port is valid.

The MNP process is recipient led (thus the network to which the customer is porting) and the donor network should not make contact with the customer to validate the port request as per Regulations. Therefore the statement that “Cell C are then supposed to notify me a port request has been initiated and then to send me a message that I respond to to (sic) approve the port” is factually incorrect and contrary to the relevant regulations.

So for example when Cell C receives a request from a customer to port a number into Cell C then Cell C is responsible to validate the port request.
In Cell C’s case, when a customer submits a request to port into Cell C, up to eight messages (depending on the port request medium used) including one informing the customer that we have received a request to move to Cell C. If a customer did not request the port, a hotline number is provided as one of the messages which the customer can contact free of charge.
Our competitors should also have processes to properly validate port requests into their networks.

Cell C team

Ok so my statement is factually incorrect, but it was based off what was told to me by the Telkom agent, and also what I would assume would be common sense given basic security requirements these days...

I would have hoped that someone in Cell C had taken their head out of their asses and actually implemented a system like that, if only to protect themselves from being involved in issues like number theft, bank account "hacks" etc etc etc...

 

[halfmoonforever]

They send me a code and they input it on their side to start the porting process.

That's the authorization code you give them that agrees you are porting your number

 

[ToxicBunny]

That's the authorization code you give them that agrees you are porting your number

Yes, I am fully aware of that... But that is purely on Telkoms side. There is no input from Cell C at all.

They receive a request from Telkom and just process it.

 

[RazedInBlack]

They send me a code and they input it on their side to start the porting process. Cell c are then supposed to notify me a port request has been initiated and then to send me a message that I respond to to approve the port. This didn't happen and my number just ported.

Well Vodacom did exactly this when my girlfriend ported to Telkom Mobile a few weeks back. Fail on Cell C's part there!

 

[CATSA]

Cell c is useless with everything

 

[Cell_C]

Cell c is useless with everything

We are sorry you feel that way.

Regards,
Cell C | TM