Vodacom leaks your number to spammers as soon as it is setup.

[Siegoboy]

So yesterday at 5:00PM I activated a new sim card for a 3G Dongle. This morning I get this.

 

[P924]

It is the rica process... Cannot trust this government with anything...

 

[ginggs]

So yesterday at 5:00PM I activated a new sim card for a 3G Dongle. This morning I get this.

Recycled number. Probably been ported to MTN at some point.

 

[Saajid]

Recycled number. Probably been ported to MTN at some point.

This. In my experience Data SIMs seem to be recycled the most (or rather, recycled SIM cards end up becoming data SIMs most often). You can take off your tinfoil hat now.

BTW, are you using a Vodacom SIM in your Afrihost MiFi router?

 

[LazyLion]

Yep, there is really no such thing as "new number" - most have been in circulation before.
Best you can do is unsubscribe from all...

Vodacom

Vodacom users can unsubcribe from all WASP services by sending “STOP ALL” to 30333.

Should you be subscribed to WASP services, you should receive the response “Your Vodacom request to delete all WASP service has been logged”. According to Vodacom, you should then receive messages of the format, “You have been unsubscribed from ‘SERVICE’ with effect from ‘DATE’”.

If you are not currently subscribed to any services you should receive the somewhat confusing response, “Your Vodacom request to delete all WASP services has been unsuccessful, Please call Vodacom Customer Care on 082111”.

Vodacom said that it is working on changing this message to say that you are currently not subscribed to any WASP services.

 

[mister]

Yep, there is really no such thing as "new number" - most have been in circulation before.
Best you can do is unsubscribe from all...

since when do spam texts come from WASP services?

 

[supersunbird]

Scammer are not spammers and like half of those messages are scammers.

And as said, you got a recycled number, look at the dates.

 

[LazyLion]

since when do spam texts come from WASP services?

Won't hurt to do that with a new number.
I would do it as a matter of course with any new number.
It costs nothing and you can have peace of mind that the number was not previously signed up for crap.
The other spam you will have to STOP individually by following the instructions.

 

[Siegoboy]

BTW, are you using a Vodacom SIM in your Afrihost MiFi router?

Yes I am using a Vodacom SIM in your Afrihost MiFi router, where I am the MTN reception is terrible.

 

[mister]

Won't hurt to do that with a new number.
I would do it as a matter of course with any new number.
It costs nothing and you can have peace of mind that the number was not previously signed up for crap.
The other spam you will have to STOP individually by following the instructions.

Ah Agreed. It is good practice. But won't stop the spam.

 

[HavocXphere]

Recycled number. Probably been ported to MTN at some point.

Not necessarily. I saw an instant jump in spam when I ported my existing number to VC too.

I'm inclined to agree though - its likely the RICA process that is leaking not VC itself.

 

[sajunky]

Not necessarily. I saw an instant jump in spam when I ported my existing number to VC too.

I'm inclined to agree though - its likely the RICA process that is leaking not VC itself.

Both.
For Vodacom - greed type of business.
For Rica - pure fraud.

 

[boxerulez]

So yesterday at 5:00PM I activated a new sim card for a 3G Dongle. This morning I get this.

2 years later on my vodacom contract and people from stellenbosch is still phoning my SO looking for Annelize. Spam. Debt collectors. All sorts.

Vodacom rubbed their filthy asses on my request for a new number 2 months into the contract.

 

[HavocXphere]

2 years later on my vodacom contract and people from stellenbosch is still phoning my SO looking for Annelize. Spam. Debt collectors. All sorts.

Vodacom rubbed their filthy asses on my request for a new number 2 months into the contract.

Just tell them you want to move the number to prepaid, but keep the contract open...new number get randomly assigned for billing purposes.

 

[boxerulez]

Just tell them you want to move the number to prepaid, but keep the contract open...new number get randomly assigned for billing purposes.

Contract to be cancelled next month. Moving it to CellC if they sort out my issues with my current device on a newly upgraded contract.

 

[Willie Trombone]

Not necessarily. I saw an instant jump in spam when I ported my existing number to VC too.

I'm inclined to agree though - its likely the RICA process that is leaking not VC itself.

You don't need Rica to scam random numbers.

 

[Willie Trombone]

2 years later on my vodacom contract and people from stellenbosch is still phoning my SO looking for Annelize. Spam. Debt collectors. All sorts.

Vodacom rubbed their filthy asses on my request for a new number 2 months into the contract.

Imo this is s legit concern

 

[Hydnon]

Bought a new phone with new number,now I am getting notices from banks when transactions take place in accounts of several people,get calls from companies looking for people owing money.

I am getting more calls and sms's from strangers than I recieve from people I know.

 

[adsl2]

Off topic but how difficult will it be to increase the length of our phone numbers? Let's say 14 numbers instead of 10 or whatever. This will increase the amount of phone numbers dramatically and thus remove the need to recycle numbers? Or are there some other issues than simply making the phone numbers longer?

 

[Willie Trombone]

Bought a new phone with new number,now I am getting notices from banks when transactions take place in accounts of several people,get calls from companies looking for people owing money.

I am getting more calls and sms's from strangers than I recieve from people I know.

Another legit concern...