topic Re: SCAM gets thru block in Discussions & Feedback

SCAM gets thru block

Mi-Amigo — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 13:06:59 GMT

After falling victim to one of the scam message, I took the advise from members of the Community and contacted 02 Customer Services, who put a bar on all direct to Bill debits and bar Premium Rates....

However, today, purely by chance I checked my message in-box and found:

65065 - Freemsg: Lorena Medienagen fur - free trial ends [date] then £4.50 per week, unless STOP to 65065.

Given the date of message and when I saw it, there is a chance that I could be billed for one week.

I sent STOP to 65065 and got an instant retur msg:

STOP Payforit Freemsg subscription to Metro Games ended. Help: 0207 369915.

I have never subscribed [or linked] to Metro Games and/or Lorena Medienagen.

How did this get through the supposed blocks which is meant to be in place on my 02 account?

This is worrying and highlights the need for 02 to drop their "trusted partners" and the scams.

Re: SCAM gets thru block

pgn — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 13:08:02 GMT

So much for safeguards, @Mi-Amigo - I hope you get your money back!

Re: SCAM gets thru block

MI5 — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 13:09:04 GMT

Neither charge to mobile or premium rate bars will stop these scams. There needs to be a specific bar for Payforit which O2 don't offer like EE and Vodafone do. Hence our petition which has so far been ignored by O2.

Re: SCAM gets thru block

Mi-Amigo — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 13:28:33 GMT

@MI5 wrote:
Neither charge to mobile or premium rate bars will stop these scams. There needs to be a specific bar for Payforit which O2 don't offer like EE and Vodafone do. Hence our petition which has so far been ignored by O2.

Thanks @pgn for your support.
@MI5- thanks for the info re-the bars. So the little 02 do offer has no effect.

I support the petition 100% , which, in my opinion, has been ignored so far by 02, because, allegedly, 02 receive a percentage of the takings by the scam third-parties.

Re: SCAM gets thru block

MI5 — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 13:35:48 GMT

Not allegedly at all @Mi-Amigo.
They take 30% - fact.

Re: SCAM gets thru block

Mi-Amigo — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 13:50:51 GMT

@MI5 wrote:
Not allegedly at all @Mi-Amigo.
They take 30% - fact.

That is dispicable @MI5 and customers have to pay to send msg STOP to the scammers - so 02 gain all round.

Re: SCAM gets thru block

pgn — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 13:53:03 GMT

A Lose-Lose scenario for the Customer, and Win-Win for the telco AND the scammer.

Despicable.

Re: SCAM gets thru block

MI5 — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 13:57:45 GMT

I've already moved 2 of my accounts to EE and Vodafone. The other 2 will be moving too if O2 don't do anything to protect their customers when requested.

Re: SCAM gets thru block

TallTrees — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 14:48:36 GMT

Only last month 25th March I remember that this particular name cropped up

with a scam ~ See here @Mi-Amigo

htthttps://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Pay-Monthly/Charged-for-service-I-never-signed-up-for/m-p/1208941ps://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Pay-Monthly/Charged-for-service-I-never-signed-up-for/m-p/1208941

Absolutely unforgiveable this regular seemingly unstoppable scamming is allowed to rage through

peoples accounts and take unauthorised money.

So very sorry that you have become an unwitting victim. I do hope that you are able to recover

your money.

Best wishes TallTrees

Re: SCAM gets thru block

TallTrees — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 14:54:34 GMT

Just a thought @Mi-Amigo

You could ask EmilieT for assistance, she may be able to help you with further procedures.

Best wishes TallTrees

Re: SCAM gets thru block

Mi-Amigo — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 17:30:10 GMT

@TallTrees wrote:
Just a thought @Mi-Amigo

You could ask EmilieT for assistance, she may be able to help you with further procedures.

Best wishes TallTrees

Thank you @TallTrees

I`ve looked at the link you included and its marked "solved" with the solution being to get a block put on - which is what I have done but as @MI5 has pointed out the 02 block doesn`t stop these scammers but when she`s back off the Easter break, I will raise it with @EmilieT and see if she can help.

Re: SCAM gets thru block

Cleoriff — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 18:06:07 GMT

Sorry to hear you have been a victim of these scammers @Mi-Amigo (Particularly when you have placed a bar on Charge to mobile and Premium numbers..which SHOULD have blocked this from happening)

It does appear there is NO protection for customers whatever steps you take.

This information will cause a few comments on a guide I am currently working on!

Re: SCAM gets thru block

MI5 — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 18:55:08 GMT

As I explained above, payforit is not covered by those bars.

Re: SCAM gets thru block

Cleoriff — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 19:32:18 GMT

@MI5 wrote:
As I explained above, payforit is not covered by those bars.

I know what was said above @MI5

Just a pity that wasn't mentioned when I asked for collaboration on the Tips to Avoid Unexpected Charges thread.

Re: SCAM gets thru block

MI5 — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 19:38:51 GMT

When was that?

Re: SCAM gets thru block

Cleoriff — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 19:44:22 GMT

2nd February. I'm currently in the middle of producing it as a guide (eventually)

https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Discussions-and-Feedback/Tips-to-avoid-unexpected-charges-on-your-bill/m-p/1196083/highlight/true#M107113

Re: SCAM gets thru block

MI5 — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 20:19:57 GMT

There's nothing in that thread that says those bars will prevent payforit though, so there was nothing to say?

Re: SCAM gets thru block

Cleoriff — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 20:39:26 GMT

@MI5 wrote:
There's nothing in that thread that says those bars will prevent payforit though, so there was nothing to say?

Agreed. Though no-one added anything about Payforit either.

Add to that, it's been 'custom and practice' for us to include the links to Charge to Mobile (and Premium rate numbers) when people complain of being scammed? As suggested by @Marjo here

https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Pay-Monthly/Snack-Games/m-p/1112166/highlight/true#M146903

Re: SCAM gets thru block

MI5 — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 20:50:55 GMT

All you need is a link to Payforit Sucks. No one can add anything better than is covered there.
Marjo's advice is good for preventing some charges but not Payforit, as proved by @Mi-Amigo.

Re: SCAM gets thru block

Cleoriff — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 20:58:24 GMT

Payforit sucks is already added to the guide I am writing.

Just pointing out that no one mentioned it in February and I was (and still am) using info from @Marjo