Fraudulent WASP subscriptions inflated Vodacom results

[Jan]

Vodacom's results inflated by fraudulent subscriptions

In its 2020 annual report, Vodacom told investors that it achieved 9.4% growth in content-related revenue and that its mobile gaming platform, PlayInc, had grown to 883,000 subscribers.

What Vodacom did not tell them is that a large number of the paying customers were fraudulently subscribed to the service.

 

[Peon]

"Argh darnit! We got caught with our pants down AGAIN!" - Vodacom

 

[TPM]

Fine then BILLIONS.... like they did to MTN in Nigeria?
Use the money to build factories in poor communities.

 

[Kayoss]

Pretty sure MTN are doing the same:

R119 p/day content charges added to fixed LTE sim that has not left the router

Hi, Hoping for some advice on how to handle this problem. R119 p/day of content charges have been added to my MTN contract which is a Fixed LTE sim card that sits inside a router 24/7. It never gets used beyond that (I don't even know the number off hand), and it could not possibly have...

mybroadband.co.za

 

[lkswan747]

Nothing to see folks, move along!

 

[r00igev@@r]

Its an old Vodacom scam . Started when AKC subscribed Vodacom's clients to his son's services. It was some find me service if I'm not mistaken.

The meerkat does not change its bolt hole.

 

[juanthyme]

excellent piece
there really should be consequences...but...

 

[rvZA]

 

[rvZA]

Pretty sure MTN are doing the same:

R119 p/day content charges added to fixed LTE sim that has not left the router

Hi, Hoping for some advice on how to handle this problem. R119 p/day of content charges have been added to my MTN contract which is a Fixed LTE sim card that sits inside a router 24/7. It never gets used beyond that (I don't even know the number off hand), and it could not possibly have...

mybroadband.co.za

South Africa is down the dumps mate. If these companies are no longer allowed to scam consumers, they will be million rand companies and not billion rand companies.

 

[supersunbird]

Vodacom's results inflated by fraudulent subscriptions

In its 2020 annual report, Vodacom told investors that it achieved 9.4% growth in content-related revenue and that its mobile gaming platform, PlayInc, had grown to 883,000 subscribers.

What Vodacom did not tell them is that a large number of the paying customers were fraudulently subscribed to the service.

Called it:

I bet these "purchases" were unauthorised WASP transactions from VC, then something happened that killed these unauthorised WASP transactions from VC, probably action by another business unit of VC that didn't have a finger in the Video Play pie.

/me puts down tinfoil hat

 

[marine1]

And is anyone surprised?
They should be hauled before the courts..and for disappearing airtime and Data. This company has always been doing this **** remember OOB shark? Signing up people to these services without permission if a criminal act.

 

[KleinBoontjie]

They are able to patch this holes. Question is, do they want to, when the money is so good?

 

[rubber_otter]

They are able to patch this holes. Question is, do they want to, when the money is so good?

lol, nooit. Money talks. Shameel Joosub upgraded from sheep to subscribers. Bending them over a barrel just feels so good.

 

[Pak Fa Fui]

This is what happens when you give too much access to trade partners and the cellphone shops. They have full access to all your info.
99% are independently owned and hire anyone off the street
Give them incentives and revenue targets and this will happen
Give them licence to sign up corporates and this will happen
No accountability, they just fire the little 19 year old and blame them then carry on as normal

So stupid

 

[Craig_]

I doubt anyone is surprised, they've been doing this for years.

 

[Peon]

I doubt anyone is surprised, they've been doing this for years.

I think whats irritating is vodacom proudly claiming the numbers of their 'gaming 'userbase as an achievement when the truth is no where in the figures.

 

[Yskasmetnstoof]

"Vodacom explained that fraudsters had found a way to abuse ". Yes. We believe you.

 

[noxibox]

Another WASP scam.

They also try to sell this PlayInc thing as great because instead of games like Lara Croft: Relic Run bleeding you dry with microtransactions you now get to be bled by PlayInc who will pass some of the blood on, when the right way to address travesties like Lara Croft: Relic Run are not to play the stupid game.

 

[Franco0909]

MY BROADBAND:
I NEED YOUR HELP PLEASE.
Fighting for 2 years now.
NO RESPONSE

I will give you YOUR NEXT VODACOM EXPOSURE .!

I HAVE HAD FRAUD UPGRADES INSIDE VODACOM BRANCHES WITH PROOF.

I HAVE HAD dual sim cards linked onto my account.

I AM SITTING WITH 5 CEL CONTRACT lines ; THAT WERE UPGRADED BY VODACOM .

IF ITS A COMPANY CONTRACT CEL LINE ; UPGRADES CAN ONLY BE DONE ON OFFICIAL LETTERHEAD ; ACCOMPANIED BY ID. OF DIRECTOR WHO HAS SIGN ABILITIES.
.
BUT VODACOM DO UNOFFICIAL UPGRADES ON CEL PHONE CONTRACTS OVER THE PHONE.!!!
Please Broadband have a look into this.!

 

[Swa]

This is what happens when you give too much access to trade partners and the cellphone shops. They have full access to all your info.
99% are independently owned and hire anyone off the street
Give them incentives and revenue targets and this will happen
Give them licence to sign up corporates and this will happen
No accountability, they just fire the little 19 year old and blame them then carry on as normal

So stupid

This is what happens when companies get free reign to act as banks without any regulatory oversight.