SMS spam in SA is a growing problem

Not that one person would make much difference, but unsolicited communication is the most sure-fire way to ensure that neither I, nor any person I can influence, wil ever do business with your company.
 
Of South Africa's big three mobile operators, only Cell C indicated that they were implementing measures to block SMSes from bogus sources.
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I :love: Cell C
 
CellC, if you're listening, set up a SMS number where we can SMS spam off to for you to take a look at and apply to your filters.

Thanks for the spam-free experience so far :D





On that note we have two phones on contract with CellC, and one on prepaid. The one on prepaid is the number we use when we have to fill in a cellphone field on a form.

To date only got two SMS spam, apart from that it's quiet.

I'd rather have them spam a prepaid number (whose SIM I can burn when it get excessive) than one of our contract numbers.
 
A while ago, I was trying to apply for a new cellphone contract and was surprised to find it had been declined due to a poor credit record. I then pulled my own ITC report to find out where the offending status came from, but to do that, you have to register a profile at ITC, which I did. Now, mysteriously, I get spam offering me the opportunity to 'clear my name'. Coincidence? I think not. But it does concern me that the most obvious conclusion for the leak of my details happens to be an organisation like ITC. It's not like a spammer can farm ITC for blacklisted accounts - you need the clients permission to even be able to do a credit check.

And really, who knows if it was even them in the first place. So I would have to say: "I have no idea where they got my details from."

Sadly, there's no way to stop the spam. I've actually registered my details with the DMA (Direct Marketing Association) to try and stop spam directed at me, but I am still getting spam. I also don't want to waste the cost of an SMS to reply to their spam, since I don't want to let them know they've got a live number. There's not an awful lot we can do to prevent ALL the spam.

Juice
 
Isn't there a way that we can arrest these companies that spam us?
 
This SMS spam is becoming a big problem in SA, especially when replying to such a message, could cost you R20 or something (not sure the limit and doubt average joe is either!)

The trouble is the networks also make money off it. It's prob why they dragging their feet and not clamping down as hard as they should. Same as Google with content farmers etc, they still make money on the clicks, hard to attack those revenue streams....
 
Clearly the other mobile operators are too keen to get their share of the money for allowing these spammers to abuse their networks, which is why they do noting. My number is on DMA, I have complained on several occasions to Vodacom, but they do nothing. Most recent one was an SMS offering to get me off blacklists. I ignored it, and today they actually started phoning me.
 
Durandal said:
Clearly the other mobile operators are too keen to get their share of the money for allowing these spammers to abuse their networks, which is why they do noting. My number is on DMA, I have complained on several occasions to Vodacom, but they do nothing. Most recent one was an SMS offering to get me off blacklists. I ignored it, and today they actually started phoning me.
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Do keep in mind that the DMA logically only has authority over its members - what unscrupulous dipsticks do is not under their control. That being said, the amount of trash I receive has declined dramatically since entering my details on their 'do not contact' list.
 
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I get very little, maybe because I added my number to the DMASA's opt-out list, but I got this gem this week from +27 82007206139826:

"Reply 'OK' to join the MobileNobo subscription service @ R44.97/week Unsubscribe? SMS 'stop games' to 39826 Help? Call 0800982166"

They gotta be kidding! Who in his right mind would subscribe after getting that?!
 
enigma243 said:
Do keep in mind that the DMA logically only has authority over its members - what unscrupulous dipsticks do is not under their control. That being said, the amount of trash I receive has declined dramatically since entering my details on their 'do not contact' list.
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Yes, I know - I'm trying to point out that I've done everything I can think of to cut down on the spam, yet it still comes in. And this I blame on the cellphone operators, because they should have a better filtering/reporting system to trace and block the rogue operators.
 
biometrics said:
I get very little, maybe because I added my number to the DMASA's opt-out list, but I got this gem this week from +27 82007206139826:

"Reply 'OK' to join the MobileNobo subscription service @ R44.97/week Unsubscribe? SMS 'stop games' to 39826 Help? Call 0800982166"

They gotta be kidding! Who in his right mind would subscribe after getting that?!
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YEah, I'd phone your cellphone operator and check that you haven't been 'subscribed' be default. Happened to me last year.
 
Durandal said:
Yes, I know - I'm trying to point out that I've done everything I can think of to cut down on the spam, yet it still comes in. And this I blame on the cellphone operators, because they should have a better filtering/reporting system to trace and block the rogue operators.
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Agreed.

I ignore SMSs. With calls I've formulated a nice approach - I ask the person if their organisation is a member of the DMASA. If they say yes, I kindly inform them that they are in contravention of their regulating body's regulations as I am on their opt-out list. I then ask them to remove me off their list, and end the call.

If they say no, I ask them to hold on, switch the speakerphone on & set it down, and merrily continue doing what I was busy with. My record so far is 23 minutes of an expectant rep on the other side before the realisation sets in that I ain't coming back.
 
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