MXit Scam?

D

Diggnasie

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Running MXit 5.2.1 on a Motorola V360, MTM, Pay as you go, have one contact (my brother) have never been in a chat room, spend 10 minutes max on it per day.

On two occasions just after I loaded R10 airtime (hey I live thin), just as I’m in the process of logging in (“Connecting…”) I briefly get interrupted by what sounds like my SMS tone and a message appears for about 5 seconds which reads: “You will receive 100% discount” then it disconnects when I check my airtime it has taken about R9 of the R10 (it never returns) I just loaded – there is no record of SMS received in my SMS folder and I never received any airtime refund.

Looks like the MXit scene is getting mature.
 
Only used official site, heard hype’s about Smallville and skins etc. never ventured there. In fact I wanted to add: it’s pure MXit, nothing independent/third party.
 
I was expecting some fan boys. Let me rather clarify: MXit Vulnerability/Exploit?
 
Firstly, unless you're purchasing MXit Moola, MXit can't charge you a cent. In other words, the only party charging you here is your cellphone network.

Basically what is happening is that your phone is connecting to the internet using CSD (dial up) instead of GPRS. It's quite simple to prevent your phone from using CSD. if you aren't sure how, ask the support guys on the MXit forums. They're a helpful bunch: http://forum.mxit.co.za

If you're wondering what that "You will receive 100% discount" message is all about: that's just an MTN cell broadcast message. It's related to the new MTN Zone prepaid package.
 
I’m definitely connecting using GPRS, gosh every second day you get a CSD warning from MXit. It’s not an actual SMS message, and I have serious doubt its related MTN Zone Prepaid Package, its only there for a few seconds then it goes a way completely. I don’t think it’s linked.

This is third party interference. Mark my words.
 
Diggnasie said:
...and I have serious doubt its related MTN Zone Prepaid Package, its only there for a few seconds then it goes a way completely. I don’t think it’s linked.

This is third party interference. Mark my words.
Click to expand...

Well mark mine as well - This is not an MXIT problem.

MXIT won't do it. And No, I'm not an MXIT fanboy - I don't even have MXIT on my phone. MXIT is software - The worst a Suspect Copy of MXIT could do is send some airtime to someone else via the MTN Me2U USSD command. But do note that the absolute minimum that they can send at one time is R30. So that rules that out as well. Maybe premium rated SMS's? I don't think so - you said yourself you got the Original version.

Oh, and another thing. Do you even know what this 'MTN Zone' is? You get a % discount depending on the load of the tower you are using. So it could very well be that (or related to that).

Please don't blame X or Y if you don't know the facts...
Ai - Who pissed me off today? :-P ;-)
Oh yea - Almost forgot! :eek:

/me ninjas Diggnasie
/me greets the ninja'ed Diggnasie
Welcome to the MyADSL Forums! :D

Oh yea - Almost forgot (again)! :eek:
I could also be wrong hey... :o
 
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Diggnasie said:
I’m definitely connecting using GPRS, gosh every second day you get a CSD warning from MXit. It’s not an actual SMS message, and I have serious doubt its related MTN Zone Prepaid Package, its only there for a few seconds then it goes a way completely. I don’t think it’s linked.
Click to expand...
Cell broadcast messages aren't like SMS's. They do exactly as you described: "only there for a few seconds then it goes a way completely"

I'm 99% sure that you're connecting with CSD when you have this problem. Motorola's tend to do this when they lose GPRS connectivity. Have a look at the following thread on the MXit forums: http://forum.mxit.co.za/viewtopic.php?t=13149. Do as is suggested in the FAQ under "While using MXit large sums are being deducted from my airtime.".

Diggnasie said:
This is third party interference. Mark my words.
Click to expand...
Are you claiming that MXit is stealing your money? If "yes", please explain how it could in any way be technically possible for the MXit application to transfer your airtime to MXit? (don't say SMS because your phone would ask you if you want to allow an application to send an SMS and this is not happening in this case)
 
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@ld13

“Please don't blame X or Y if you don't know the facts...”

Where Naspers are concerned. LOL, ask the ABC what they think of Media24 circulation figures.

“Ai - Who pissed me off today? :-P ;-)” - its like a toyshop in here


@Athlon64

Explain how they can’t?
 
Diggnasie said:
Explain how they can’t?
Click to expand...
There is a very limited number of things which can cause your phone's airtime to decrease. These things are all charged by your cellphone network. The following come to mind:
  • Voice phone calls (including CSD)
  • Video phone calls
  • SMS
  • MMS
  • Data usage (using GPRS, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA, etc)
These are the only services which can cause your airtime to decrease.

Why can the MXit application not transfer airtime to MXit:
  • Voice phone calls (including CSD): If the MXit client wanted to make a voice call, you would be asked to give permission for this to happen (which isn't happening here). Also, MXit wouldn't be able to benefit in any way from a phone call which you made
  • Video phone calls: same as for voice calls
  • SMS: With premium rated SMS, MXit could earn some money, but again, your phone would ask you to give permission to the application to do this, and this is not happening in your case. Apart from that, the MXit application is made by a trusted company - they wouldn't put such trash in their app (besides, they don't need it - they make enough money as is)
  • MMS: same as for voice calls
  • Data usage (using GPRS, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA, etc): when you run MXit, MXit creates data traffic to send and receive messages (or whatever content you choose). This is charged for by your cellphone network and not by MXit. MXit earns no money from data usage.

Think of a similar situation on your PC:
Say for example you use MSN messenger to chat to your friends from your PC. Is there any way in which MSN messenger can put anything on your Telkom bill? No. The same applies to MXit.

Give the solution which I suggested a go. I'm 99% sure it'll solve the problem which you are currently experiencing.
 
@ Athlon64

Thanks for your time and valid input. Its humbling and much appreciated. Very inspiring also, you remind me of Squealer in George Orwell’s Animal Farm.

I’d also love line by line commentary on the ejabberd source code. It is open source.
 
Your sarcasm is not appreciated. I bet you didn't even try the solution which I provided. By the way, I do know what I'm talking about. I was really just trying to help. Why did you even make this thread if you didn't want to even try to solve the problem? One can't help those who don't want to be helped. I'm outta here.
 
Athlon64 said:
There is a very limited number of things which can cause your phone's airtime to decrease. These things are all charged by your cellphone network. The following come to mind:
  • Voice phone calls (including CSD)
  • Video phone calls
  • SMS
  • MMS
  • Data usage (using GPRS, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA, etc)
These are the only services which can cause your airtime to decrease.

Why can the MXit application not transfer airtime to MXit:
  • Voice phone calls (including CSD): If the MXit client wanted to make a voice call, you would be asked to give permission for this to happen (which isn't happening here). Also, MXit wouldn't be able to benefit in any way from a phone call which you made
  • Video phone calls: same as for voice calls
  • SMS: With premium rated SMS, MXit could earn some money, but again, your phone would ask you to give permission to the application to do this, and this is not happening in your case. Apart from that, the MXit application is made by a trusted company - they wouldn't put such trash in their app (besides, they don't need it - they make enough money as is)
  • MMS: same as for voice calls
  • Data usage (using GPRS, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA, etc): when you run MXit, MXit creates data traffic to send and receive messages (or whatever content you choose). This is charged for by your cellphone network and not by MXit. MXit earns no money from data usage.

Think of a similar situation on your PC:
Say for example you use MSN messenger to chat to your friends from your PC. Is there any way in which MSN messenger can put anything on your Telkom bill? No. The same applies to MXit.

Give the solution which I suggested a go. I'm 99% sure it'll solve the problem which you are currently experiencing.
Click to expand...

Good explanation. Pity the guy didn't feel the same way.
 
It's not mxit or CSD.It's MTN.

Hello Everyone.
It's not mxit or CSD.It's MTN.I've being using MTN on my motorola v360.I've only one websession on the phone.The only information in the websession is the name of the session and the apn.The CSD fields are empty.If i start a internet session on the phone of pc mtn deducts R2 sometimes more up to R7.If you i end the session they don't refund.Sometimes they refund but only after 24hours.But lately they don't refunds anymore.I contacted MTN customer services they told me there is a problem with their billing system and that they are working on it.I had this problems for a couple months now thats why i ported to Virgin mobile.
 
Thanks for you input yusrie, hmmm, I wonder if this “problem with their billing system” has got anything to do with their nok nok ambitions. MXit is so far ahead it will be like Susy Search chasing Google. Susy is prettier though.

“And the South African public looked from government to criminal to big business, and from big business to criminal to government, and from government to criminal to big business again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.” - Diggnasies ANC Farm



@ Athlon64
Apologies for the sarcasm, I just thought it didn’t bear the hallmarks of a CSD charge (which most of the times nothing happens).
But thanks a lot for your insight I learned a lot. Really!
 
This place is like school I learn a lot......and that aint no joke....LOL
 
As explained earlier, Motos have a fall back feature which connects over CSD when the GPRS is failing/has failed. You will know you are going over CSD when a blue phone appears in the corner of your screen. Open up your GPRS connection settings and delete the dial up number in the csd section (if it doesn't let you delete, just put 0s or something)
 
Turbo_Aspiration said:
As explained earlier, Motos have a fall back feature which connects over CSD when the GPRS is failing/has failed. You will know you are going over CSD when a blue phone appears in the corner of your screen. Open up your GPRS connection settings and delete the dial up number in the csd section (if it doesn't let you delete, just put 0s or something)
Click to expand...


Erm, no

CSD is being burnt on the alter of deterrence for all problems on MXit. I think yusrie hit the nail on the head with this one. I wouldn’t be surprised if MXit was spoon-fed the CSD buzzword by cellular networks.
 
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