Vodacom calms privacy concerns

I had a 3G contract and NEVER gave the number to anyone... Surprisingly enough I received many well-directed SMS to that number. Who gave my number away if not Vodacom?
 
BBSA said:
Same here,

Me think VC is BSing us:(
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If so, then I'm also out of this loop, but I seriously doubt that. I did a lot of (very hard) digging and could find no trace of numbers being passed from Vodacom. I addressed this at the highest level and got the assurance that the Vodacom privacy policies stand and are sacred.

Remember, others also have access to your number.
 
There are a lot of MSISDNs out there that have been recycled, it is IMO entirely feasible that the previous user of an MSISDN could have given out their number [at the time] to all & sundry, and some time later relinquished the number for recycling, the end result is that the new user of such a number ends up receiving stuff intended for the previous user of that number, and this is only one possibility - there are others.
 
i have had my number for years now, also they do sell their list to VIP database and they in turn sell to everyone.
 
This will then allow them to potentially serve more targeted advertising and even SMS campaigns to the user.
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If only they would stop sending me sms and mms spam after I have unsubscribed for the umpteenth time. vodacom3g can you comment on why they are not removing me from their list?
 
Wyzak said:
If only they would stop sending me sms and mms spam after I have unsubscribed for the umpteenth time. vodacom3g can you comment on why they are not removing me from their list?
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Are you sure the SMS's / MMS's are from Vodacom?

There is a single unsubscribe system for all marketing stuff from Vodacom, a single unsubscribe from here should remove you from the lists.

PM me the SMS & MMS text, I'm especially interested in the originating number. It'll tell us who sent it.
 
Wyzak said:
If only they would stop sending me sms and mms spam after I have unsubscribed for the umpteenth time. vodacom3g can you comment on why they are not removing me from their list?
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You could complain to WASPA, but only if the messages come from a WASPA member. As discussed previously, there is some doubt as to whether Voda is actually a member.
 
I have sent the messages that I still have to vodacom3g, but for example on that BMW promotion that Vodacom was running I received an MMS, unsubscribed immediately. Then received 2 more of the identical MMS's in the next 5 minutes, unsubscribed again twice, and later that day I received another one of the MMS's.
 
@vodacom3g: Yesterday someone from Leaf Mobile contacted me about me being due for an upgrade.

She proceeded to assume I wanted the Samsung N600, asking can she proceed with the order. I told her to hold her horses and asked her can't she email me rather. I stupidly gave her my personal email, but then received no email in connection with my upgrade.

I could not find any Leaf Mobile website, I'm pretty sure she said leafmobile.co.za ?
I only know of leaf.co.za, but they don't seem to offer cell contracts?

Is Leaf Mobile a subsidiary of Vodacom?

Why is Vodacom Service Provider not contacting me themselves with regard to my upgrade?
 
ryan411 said:
@vodacom3g: Yesterday someone from Leaf Mobile contacted me about me being due for an upgrade.

She proceeded to assume I wanted the Samsung N600, asking can she proceed with the order. I told her to hold her horses and asked her can't she email me rather. I stupidly gave her my personal email, but then received no email in connection with my upgrade.

I could not find any Leaf Mobile website, I'm pretty sure she said leafmobile.co.za ?
I only know of leaf.co.za, but they don't seem to offer cell contracts?

Is Leaf Mobile a subsidiary of Vodacom?

Why is Vodacom Service Provider not contacting me themselves with regard to my upgrade?
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Not that I know.

The SP's have a list when you're due for an upgrade and the more pro-active ones will try and upgrade you. Looks like the shop you bought from is not so fast.

Had a Vodashop phone me from Pta trying to upgrade me. 100% for effort, 0% for common sense (I live in Cpt :))
 
I've also had numerous SMSs from Nashua mobile that my account is due for an upgrade. I've never dealt with them before, I've only dealt with CelluCity when upgrading AFAIK, where do they get my details?

And referring to the original article: although no other information is passed around, the cellphone number in the URL could also be logged in proxy server logs on proxy servers between the user and the website when the user clicks the link. This opens up more privacy concerns, as other parties might be able to get hold of your cellphone number.
 
My data sim has never been used for making calls and I therefore do not know the number, so hence have never given out to anyone. I do however receive marketing related material on this number which is not from VC.

V3G: Who else apart from Vodacom has access to the general public's numbers or do they market to random numbers?
 
In my experience the worst culprits are the banks.

I created a special email alias for use with a bank application, and that address did get ZA originated spam of all kinds until I scrapped it.

Most probably your trustworthy bank is not as trustworthy as you might think.
 
DJStealth said:
My data sim has never been used for making calls and I therefore do not know the number, so hence have never given out to anyone. I do however receive marketing related material on this number which is not from VC.

V3G: Who else apart from Vodacom has access to the general public's numbers or do they market to random numbers?
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Because the number are known (082-YYY-XXXX, where YYY is for a specific SP) and in sequence, it's easy enough to just run a 'SMS shot' to the whole range.

I've got a few telemetry SIMs and I see they sometimes get asked to as a "young and dynamic person", join some arbritary company looking for local or international talent.

Obviously if you're on contract your SP will also have your number, but it's amazing where your number ends up, purely from information one divulge as part of your normal day-to-day life.

I often look at those logs filled in at gates, front-desks and other environments where you need to 'sign in'. I suspect inbetween the few Mr. M Mouse's nad Mr. S Clause's there are a lot of valid numbers.......
 
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