WASPs

[wmdvanzyl]

I realize this is not a new topic, but Wireless Application Service Providers have been driving me nuts lately. Do they realize their time is ending and they need to pocket as much as they can? Maybe.

I have two numbers, both of which have been targeted by WASPs in the last 3 months. The one was robbed of nearly R400 (at R15 per day) for something called WhatsMob. I finally got hold of the company who is billing me and after figuring out which one of their illegitimate products is the thorn in my side, they deregistered me and sent me proof of my opt-in. Of course, i cannot find their alleged sms'es on my phone and i definitely didn't go to their website and confirmed the activation. Bastards. My other number have had two occurrences of SMS that read "You have now been successfully registered at R2 per day blah blah".

I always try to get myself opted-out by any means neccessary, but with ICASA stating clearly that they won't touch this and the Mobile operators pulling out of other Ombuds services, where should we turn for help? That is essentially my question. I don't udnerstand why there isn't service that allows me to say "Hey, i will NEVER want this. Put me on the list of people who cannot get this. I am willing to live without it, thank you."

 

[Sig_sys_7]

I realize this is not a new topic, but Wireless Application Service Providers have been driving me nuts lately. Do they realize their time is ending and they need to pocket as much as they can? Maybe.

I have two numbers, both of which have been targeted by WASPs in the last 3 months. The one was robbed of nearly R400 (at R15 per day) for something called WhatsMob. I finally got hold of the company who is billing me and after figuring out which one of their illegitimate products is the thorn in my side, they deregistered me and sent me proof of my opt-in. Of course, i cannot find their alleged sms'es on my phone and i definitely didn't go to their website and confirmed the activation. Bastards. My other number have had two occurrences of SMS that read "You have now been successfully registered at R2 per day blah blah".

I always try to get myself opted-out by any means neccessary, but with ICASA stating clearly that they won't touch this and the Mobile operators pulling out of other Ombuds services, where should we turn for help? That is essentially my question. I don't udnerstand why there isn't service that allows me to say "Hey, i will NEVER want this. Put me on the list of people who cannot get this. I am willing to live without it, thank you."

Go straight to the nearest police station. Open a case of fraud against the WASP, WASPA and the Operator. Take your case number and forward it to waspa with your formal complaint with the following address copied: [email protected]

WASPA is a facilitator and protector of cybercrime in SA.

 

[WireFree]

I realize this is not a new topic, but Wireless Application Service Providers have been driving me nuts lately.

Millions of people probably loose money everyday to WASP services. Many either don't realise it, or don't know what to do.

Do they realize their time is ending and they need to pocket as much as they can? Maybe.

I have two numbers, both of which have been targeted by WASPs in the last 3 months. The one was robbed of nearly R400 (at R15 per day) for something called WhatsMob. I finally got hold of the company who is billing me and after figuring out which one of their illegitimate products is the thorn in my side, they deregistered me and sent me proof of my opt-in. Of course, i cannot find their alleged sms'es on my phone and i definitely didn't go to their website and confirmed the activation. Bastards. My other number have had two occurrences of SMS that read "You have now been successfully registered at R2 per day blah blah".

One option is to switch to Advinne. After noticing how airtime disappears from customers' accounts as a result of WASP subscription services they did not know about, Advinne now blocks all WASP services. If you have a single WASP deduction after the first business day on Advinne, Advinne will refund you. If you port-in all existing WASP services will be blocked within one business day, and thereafter you will NOT be allowed to subscribe to future WASP services. If you have a WASP deduction on a ported-in number after the first business day let me know and you will be credited for the full amount deducted - NO questions asked and NO attempts like the other mobile operators to prove that it was your fault for not realising that you subscribed to these services.

I always try to get myself opted-out by any means neccessary, but with ICASA stating clearly that they won't touch this and the Mobile operators pulling out of other Ombuds services, where should we turn for help? That is essentially my question.

A service provider that listens to its customers.

I don't udnerstand why there isn't service that allows me to say "Hey, i will NEVER want this. Put me on the list of people who cannot get this. I am willing to live without it, thank you."

There is. It's called an Advinne SIM.

 

[SaiyanZ]

I just realized that I've been subscribed to "MyFaith" for a month now. I got an sms on 14/08/2017 but ignored it. Yesterday I received several sms's in the morning so I monitored my airtime and it dropped by R12 without any usage from my side.

I didn't sign up for anything or enter some dodgy site with my phone. How do I get rid of this? This is pure theft and annoying as now I'm not going to top up my phone until this stuff is sorted. It's a prepaid CellC sim and I've had this number for over 15 years and have never had such an issue.

 

[Geoff.D]

I like the rest of you are absolutely sick and tired of this regular occurrence on my phone an my wife's phone. These parasites always claim "you" activated the service and deliver proof when challenged. But neither me or my wife does anything on our phones consciously to activate this rubbish.

I have resorted to send (on Vodacom) at least once a week a "Stop all" message just in case. The network operators are just not interested in helping.

What I have found though is that the less you make use of social media ( facebook is the worst, twitter etc), the less chance there is for you to inadvertently touch a portion of the screen and in doing so activate a service either visible or not even visible. This is probably where most of these activations come from.

When challenged, the operators of these scams will deny that they place the links and adverts on webpages etc, and always deny that these adverts and links are hidden on blank spaces on the screen, but I am absolutely convinced that that is what is happening.

The only thing that will satisfy me will be when the mobile operators offer a complete and total opt out option where you have to contact the operator to activate or open up access to theses services. NOTHING else is good enough.

There is a thread somewhere on the forum with the process to follow to opt out of this rubbish for the various network operators BUT it is NOT a permanent opt out and you have to regularly check and see what is happening on your account.

I delete ALL SMSs from numbers I do not know. I blacklist everyone that shows up. I am collecting them all for future legal action.

 

[SaiyanZ]

I replied with "stop myfaith" and received a confirmation sms that I have been unsubscribed.

The only place that I have given my cell number to recently is Virgin Active. I started receiving these sms's and several other ads from the same number just a week after signing up with them at the beginning of August.

 

[Geoff.D]

I replied with "stop myfaith" and received a confirmation sms that I have been unsubscribed.

The only place that I have given my cell number to recently is Virgin Active. I started receiving these sms's and several other ads from the same number just a week after signing up with them at the beginning of August.

Cell C do have an option similar to the "stop all" facility on Vodacom, so check with them.

Yes. That is another problem where even though you might control access to your number, you have no guarantees that others' do not give out your number.

I use a special copy of my ID which has a disclaimer printed on it which specifies exactly for what purpose the ID copy is given and specifically prohibiting the use of the copy for anything else. If the company asking for a copy of my ID refuses to sign the disclaimer, the business transactions stops right there. I am considering doing exactly the same for ALL information requested by others including giving out my cell phone numbers.

 

[rubber_otter]

I like the rest of you are absolutely sick and tired of this regular occurrence on my phone an my wife's phone. These parasites always claim "you" activated the service and deliver proof when challenged. But neither me or my wife does anything on our phones consciously to activate this rubbish.

I have resorted to send (on Vodacom) at least once a week a "Stop all" message just in case. The network operators are just not interested in helping.

What I have found though is that the less you make use of social media ( facebook is the worst, twitter etc), the less chance there is for you to inadvertently touch a portion of the screen and in doing so activate a service either visible or not even visible. This is probably where most of these activations come from.

When challenged, the operators of these scams will deny that they place the links and adverts on webpages etc, and always deny that these adverts and links are hidden on blank spaces on the screen, but I am absolutely convinced that that is what is happening.

The only thing that will satisfy me will be when the mobile operators offer a complete and total opt out option where you have to contact the operator to activate or open up access to theses services. NOTHING else is good enough.

There is a thread somewhere on the forum with the process to follow to opt out of this rubbish for the various network operators BUT it is NOT a permanent opt out and you have to regularly check and see what is happening on your account.

I delete ALL SMSs from numbers I do not know. I blacklist everyone that shows up. I am collecting them all for future legal action.

IFTTT. Saves all my SMSes that come in to a google spreadsheet. Deleting SMSes off the phone still leaves them on the spreadsheet. Its brilliant.

 

[pinball wizard]

Millions of people probably loose money everyday to WASP services. Many either don't realise it, or don't know what to do.
.

I find the problem is that people with loose money tend to lose it.

 

[Geoff.D]

I find the problem is that people with loose money tend to lose it.

That is true and I don't care about them. I do not have that problem. I WANT service providers to provide us with the tools to protect ourselves.

 

[Geoff.D]

IFTTT. Saves all my SMSes that come in to a google spreadsheet. Deleting SMSes off the phone still leaves them on the spreadsheet. Its brilliant.

Thanks for the tip.
So what is the catch? I do not want 1/10 the of the "stuff" that comes with IFTTT as far as I understand what I have read so far.

I would just want the service you mention.

 

[wmdvanzyl]

What infuriates me is that my service provider is suppose to look out for me. I am their client. But they allow these third parties to offer this value added service not because they think I will benefit, but because they profit from it. I am not sure if service providers get a direct cut from the fees, or whether the WASP must pay a fee to offer the service. But the f a prepaid customer is being smoked R15 a day, and they have to recharge every day, then that suits the service provider just fine.

How long must consumers in South Africa be taken advantage of?

 

[rubber_otter]

Thanks for the tip.
So what is the catch? I do not want 1/10 the of the "stuff" that comes with IFTTT as far as I understand what I have read so far.

I would just want the service you mention.

Just disable them. I only have one or two tasks running. Fiddle around with it. It really works a treat.

 

[Geoff.D]

Just disable them. I only have one or two tasks running. Fiddle around with it. It really works a treat.

Will give it a try! thanks for the tip.

 

[chrisc]

The SABC and ADT sell their customer lists. I deliberately make a typo when filling in forms, adding an extra "e" or mis-spelling the street name. So when an ad comes along, I know from whom the data originated

Not that it makes any good of course. ADT are quite open about their use of your details. In 2012 when I crossed out and signed that paragraph on their Ts & Cs, they refused to renew the contract, trying to blackmail me into signing, saying they would circulate my name and address with insurance companies as one who does not have a response service. I simply organised another supplier.

ADT then tried to hand me over to their collection agents, who were naturally unable to produce an invoice or statement. This from a company who has a R200m a month turnover

 

[Vis1/0N]

R2 airtime limit set on my MTN data SiM. What else to do? i never used the SiM in a phone before and have no idea how to unsubscribe. i stopped sharing my wifi with colleagues who could have been the ones to have accepted.

My complaint to MTN was not responded to and i just dropped the airtime limit.

 

[wmdvanzyl]

It still continues. Getting messages every week about services. Some claim that they are OPT-OUT, though i know that is not possible. Well, not in theory.

I can't understand that our ISP's (Afrihost / MTN) in my case can't have a list of numbers that never, ever want to receive such messages or sign up for such services.