topic Re: Multiple Texts Off 84222 number just now? in Pay Monthly

Multiple Texts Off 84222 number just now?

Penny7 — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 20:48:00 GMT

I have received multiple text messages off a 84222 number that states it is a Friday lockdown offer. The usual text STOP to unsubscribe or visit link for whatever. I’ve not replied to it, I’ve just blocked the number via my phone, but will I be charged for even receiving the texts?? Thanks in advance 🙂

Re: Multiple Texts Off 84222 number just now?

MI5 — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 20:55:56 GMT

@Penny7

Assuming it's just spam, no, you won'y be charged. Just block the number and ignore them.

You can report them to O2 by forwarding the text to 7726 - It's free.

If you find you have been charged, there is help here and here www.payforitsucks.co.uk

Re: Multiple Texts Off 84222 number just now?

Cleoriff — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 20:56:26 GMT

@Penny7

The number belongs to Tap 2 Bill a premium rate scam. You wont be charged for the texts as long as you don't subscribe to their service.

See community help here:

https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/How-to-Guides/Have-you-fallen-for-or-been-conned-into-a-premium-rate-s...

And O2 advice here…

https://www.o2.co.uk/help/account-and-billing/premium-service-checker

You should also ring Customer Service and ask them to place the following bars on your account:

Bar all Direct to bill debits

Bar Premium rate numbers

Re: Multiple Texts Off 84222 number just now?

MI5 — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 21:02:23 GMT

@Payforit_Sucks is our resident expert on these things.

There is systems in place these days to prevent charges as you have to confirm you want the texts so I'd completely ignore it.

Re: Multiple Texts Off 84222 number just now?

Payforit_Sucks — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 21:49:47 GMT

@Penny7 wrote:
I have received multiple text messages off a 84222 number that states it is a Friday lockdown offer. The usual text STOP to unsubscribe or visit link for whatever. I’ve not replied to it, I’ve just blocked the number via my phone, but will I be charged for even receiving the texts?? Thanks in advance 🙂

@Penny7

The only "service" registered as using this number is one called f(b)friday, with contact details as follows:

Customer care number

02032913904

Customer care email

customer.service@freeb.me

Customer care website

http://www.freeb.me/terms_conditions

Postal address

Moblix Media Limited
1 City Road East
Manchester
M15 4PN
United Kingdom

I wouldn't expect you to be charged for these texts. If you are, its a scam. More likely the texts are spam and should be forwarded to 7726. It would help if you could provide EXACTLY what the texts said, as it can be difficult to distinguish between spam and scam texts.

It's a bad idea to block these texts. Blocking the texts won't stop any charges, but will stop you seeing the information you need to pursue a refund.

If you find that you have been charged for the texts, come back for more help.

Hope you manage to sort this out.

Paul

Re: Multiple Texts Off 84222 number just now?

Cleoriff — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 21:54:17 GMT

@Payforit_Sucks

I said Tap2Bill as this was the information I found here

https://who-called.co.uk/Number/84222

Many reports of people receiving non stop texts from them today.

Re: Multiple Texts Off 84222 number just now?

Millimoo — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 22:07:38 GMT

I received 150 messages in 4 minutes... FREEB STOP on the text did not stop them, STOP or STOP ALL did. The advice from O2 and Vodaphone on Twitter was to send STOP. A lot of Voda customers on pay and go have been charged £1 per message. For contract phones, it will be an unbilled amount currently. I'm furious as I have not registered for anything, and these are completely unsolicited.

Re: Multiple Texts Off 84222 number just now?

bouncealong313 — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 00:02:14 GMT

I also got hit by this earlier tonight just after 9pm. I got sent 50+ spam texts from 84222 all with the same message within a matter of 3-5 minutes. They just kept coming every few seconds until I managed to block the number. I checked the My O2 app immediately but didn't seem to be charged for it at the time and had hoped nothing more would come of it, so I reported it to the ICO and left it. Just checked My O2 again and now I've been charged over £130 for the scam texts! I still can't believe such a stupid system is in place - that a business can decide to randomly message ME (not the other way round) and I'm the one who gets charged for it. I definitely have never given my consent to these scamming idiots and didn't subscribe to anything to receive these. Just Googling the number shows that dozens, if not hundreds or more other people have also been hit by this scam today. Typically the only way I can find to get in touch with O2 about it is an online chat facility in the app which of course is offline now that I've actually been charged. Just hoping I can get these stupid texts wiped off my bill or there's going to be trouble.

Re: Multiple Texts Off 84222 number just now?

derwenhj — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 00:03:23 GMT

I have had 55 text messages off this number and been charged £45.82 for the privelage, I have not even subscribed to a premium rate number so how on earth has this happened?? I didn't click on any links, I just blocked it and deleted all the messages for which I now regret as it could have been used as evidence. I will be on the phone with customer services in the morning!! Absolutely furious!

Re: Multiple Texts Off 84222 number just now?

bouncealong313 — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 00:06:31 GMT

On O2 monthly contract it looks like they're charging £0.83 per text and it only took about 5 minutes or less to stack up to over £133 for me before I figured out how to block the number. If I hadn't been using my phone at the time they started I hate to think how long it could have gone on for. Anyone who got hit by them last night or if it happens again, check your account a few hours after it happens/after midnight because monthly accounts won't have shown the text charges immediately.

Re: Multiple Texts Off 84222 number just now?

bouncealong313 — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 00:20:45 GMT

I just looked up the number on the PSA service checker (https://psauthority.org.uk/for-consumers/service-checker) and I definitely have never heard of them and never subscribed or taken part in their supposed service at all. The PSA website indicates you have to try and fight for a refund from the company themselves and then if no luck, report it or the PSA and they take a look at the company but don't guarantee any individual refunds? So... a shockingly unsecure service provided through phone providers where businesses and scam artists can freely fraudulently scam people simply by sending messages has no safety net from the actual phone providers?! (From how the PSA site reads)

MI5 I'm sorry but "there are systems in place"...? There obviously aren't! I didn't "confirm" anything at all about these texts or charges to these scammers or to O2 and still got screwed!

Re: Multiple Texts Off 84222 number just now?

bouncealong313 — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 00:43:54 GMT

The texts I received said:

"f (b) fri lockdown offer goto www.freebee.eu/claim enter code COFFEE be sure to claim by 4PM 27/09 Unsubscribe? Txt FREEB STOP 84222 or call 02032913904"

Just absolute nonsense, it doesn't even say what the "offer" is for in the message so it's clearly a scam to get you to go to the website to phish more of your details and also to get as much money out of you as possible in the meanwhile.

Also reported one of the messages to 7726 right after it happened. Wasn't any point forwarding more than one message because the forwarding doesn't let you actually forward the message itself with any timestamp, just the contents.

Tried calling the scam company's "customer service" number, just got an automated message saying it was closed and to leave name and details if you want to unsubscribe - to something I never subscribed to in the first place, yeah right like I'm going to leave you even more of my details when you have already stolen my phone number from somewhere. Was extremely hesitant to even call them because as they're clearly a scam they just end up finding out who has an active account to target again from the list of numbers they get incoming calls from. Extremely hesitant to email them for the same reason - it just allows them to collect active email addresses and more data on you to then use in further scams and phishing attempts. This is all why there should be intervention from phone providers in all of this, to make sure victims are protected from further exposing themselves and retaliation scams.

Can't remember if this falls under Direct Carrier Billing of PSD2, might have to find that out later in the morning if O2 refuse to do anything about it at first.

Re: Multiple Texts Off 84222 number just now?

Rockinghorse — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 06:28:20 GMT

I got multiple texts last night even after stopping message and blocking number and now have a £109 bill. Unimpressed

Re: Multiple Texts Off 84222 number just now?

madasaf1sh — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 06:46:26 GMT

THis sounds like someone uploaded a file on Friday night knowing no one can do anything about it, which is absolutely scandalous.

I would also follow the advice from Ofcom and report them to the ICO

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/problems/tackling-nuisance-calls-and-messages/spam-texts

Also ensure you are registered with the TPS

@bouncealong as Ofcom publish publicly every dialling code, most of these companies go into excel (at its simplest) paste from 000001 to 999999 for each dialing code, upload it to as sms provider and click send, its as simple as that.. and at 2- 10p per text sent its a good return on investment.

The company that sent this have been fined £100K in the past for breaches by the Regulator.

I hope o2 can do something along with the other 4 MNO's to close down this company once and for all... Unfortunately i have a feeling this company uses a 3rd party rather than a direct connection into o2 (or the other networks).

@Payforit_Sucks (Paul), any additional advice you can give?

(edited to add more info)

Re: Multiple Texts Off 84222 number just now?

Pragmatist — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 06:41:31 GMT

This happened to me as well - I’ve put in a message to o2 customer service and am awaiting a call back.

Re: Multiple Texts Off 84222 number just now?

Cleoriff — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 06:49:20 GMT

@Pragmatist @Penny7 @Rockinghorse @bouncealong313

To avoid this happening in future, call O2 and have them place the following 2 bars on your account

Bar all to Direct Bill Debits (Charge to Mobile)

Bar Premium rate numbers.

All numbers for O2 are in this guide

@Payforit_Sucks have you seen these since you last posted?

Can you offer further advice please?

Re: Multiple Texts Off 84222 number just now?

Penny7 — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 07:34:05 GMT

Yep, woken up to a £105 amount on my extra charges. Absolutely disgusting!! If I hadn’t have had my phone in my hands then god knows what it would have been.

Re: Multiple Texts Off 84222 number just now?

bouncealong313 — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 08:02:11 GMT

@Cleoriff I already registered with the TPS a long time ago, doesn't seem to have done anything to prevent this (although in fairness it's probably prevented other stuff). Already reported it to the ICO and O2 (7226) yesterday immediately after it happened.

I just got off the phone with O2 about it as their lines opened at 8. They've said they're raising an investigation and I'll get the outcome in seven days but from their side of things with these scams they tend to believe there is a link between the (my) phone number and the company somewhere that justifies having charged the account - and don't take any responsibility at all for anything that happens inbetween or attempting to prevent it. Imagine a company hosting one of the most important services you use in life in 2020 saying they have no interest in preventing fraud and just let charges through.

I also asked for anything related to premium rates and anything related to direct carrier billing to be blocked from my account and they didn't seem keen on doing it at first. I managed to get out of them by the end of the call that apparently they've blocked premium rates from charging my account in future but they seemed hesitant to getting to that stage or acknowledging it. I had to go round in circles being told that because I have an "old tariff" (it's probably three, maybe four years old?) that I didn't have any protection on my account against this, which is just ridiculous. Protection (spend limits at the very least) should be a flatline basic for every consumer but I was told my account wasn't "eligible" for such protection just because of the age of my tariff. It's not like it's a 20 year old tariff made for landline phones! And why aren't people even warned about not having any protection? Banks and credit card companies don't make you sign up to entirely new accounts when they release new baseline protections for consumer rights - they integrate them into existing accounts (yes they may replace your card, but they don't change your account for baseline consumer protections). I've had the same bank and phone accounts for almost 20 years and never once have I had to change my bank account just to be protected from obvious fraud.

I mean being sent and charged for exactly the same text over 100 times within seconds of each other should be an absolute red flag to ANY business that something dodgy is going on and they should have automated systems that block it - if it was a legitimate service, it would not be sending exactly the same text multiple times and no legitimate business has any need to be sending that many texts, that quickly, especially when direct carrier billing can be used for charging larger sums to phone accounts these days instead of charging by text. But it seems like there was no system in place to detect or block this kind of behaviour. It just seems bizarre to me that there's no protection.

It honestly scared the **** out of me that something like this is even possible as a scam. I know fraud happens through banking/financial services all the time but at least in that there are regulations in place that involve the banks (to a degree) and they're obliged to do something about it. From everything I've experienced and read in the last 12 hours, it seems like phone companies don't like getting involved and rarely do much to help people. It's not the fact that the scam is possible that scares me, it's the disinterest in protecting consumers (victims) that scares me.

I have zero trust in the scam company ever putting things right so just fingers crossed for the O2 investigation.

Re: Multiple Texts Off 84222 number just now?

Cleoriff — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 08:08:43 GMT

@bouncealong313

O2 can NOT refuse to put a bar on Charge to mobile or Premium rate numbers, if these are requested.

I have never heard of anyone having a problem with this request before.

Outrageous.!!

Re: Multiple Texts Off 84222 number just now?

bouncealong313 — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 08:12:11 GMT

If anyone else has any problems getting O2 to bar premium texts, I did also threaten to close my Pay Monthly account and move to PayAsYouGo (because that way, I just wouldn't top up the SIM until I absolutely needed to so it'd be impossible for these scams to take as much of your money as they wanted) and after that they seemed to be more receptive to barring the texts in future. So maybe try that if you need to.

For a while it honestly felt like I was being told - reading between the lines - that I'd have to pay up to take out a new tariff just to get any kind of protection from this happening again in the future.