topic Re: Picture Message Hijacked! in Discussions & Feedback

Picture Message Hijacked!

Anonymous — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 18:59:42 GMT

Hi - I am looking for some advice please - I rang o2 but they said they couldn't help.
I have recently had two weird experiences when receiving picture messages. In both instances, I have received a picture message of my son from a unknown numbers (different in each case) - that rules out a random phishing message! On both occasions the message originated from my parent's house and they confirmed sending them. However, when I received the messages an unrecognised number appeared to have sent it - when I reply the same number comes straight back asking "who is this" or something to that effect. I am wary that it might be a scam that if I ring them it will divert to a premium rate number.
Is it possible that someone can hijack the message when it is sending? I assume it goes via the internet as the globe appears on my phone when sending / receiving.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Cheers!

Re: Picture Message Hijacked!

Anonymous — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 20:20:54 GMT

Do they have an iphone?
On an iphone if you go to settings>phone>my number and the number is incorrect then your MMS will have that incorrect number on them so when recipients reply their message goes to that number.

Re: Picture Message Hijacked!

Anonymous — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 07:22:50 GMT

There is a similar bug in most Android handsets.

Re: Picture Message Hijacked!

Anonymous — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 12:09:02 GMT

Thanks Guys - they are defo not on i-phone. I am not sure of the exact model but they are both basic enough, older Sony Ericsson models (I think the W910i).
I just dont know if it is possible for someone to in some way pick up the signal of the outgoing message and replace the legititamte details with their own. O2 did not have much to say about the whole thing and certainly did not appear to be aware of any such scam. It may just have been some sort of technical glitch and I am getting my knicckers in a twist over nothing - I just dont like people getting conned!

Re: Picture Message Hijacked!

Anonymous — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 12:26:19 GMT

It's theoretically possible to intercept a communication like that, but requires about £15,000 of equipment, ten minutes and the person needs to know one or two words of the message. So no-one is going to do this for an MMS.

Re: Picture Message Hijacked!

Anonymous — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 14:00:36 GMT

Thanks - highly unlikely with that sort of outlay! Must have been one of those weird and wonderful technical glitches.

Re: Picture Message Hijacked!

Anonymous — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:13:24 GMT

They can be irritating as you never get to the bottom of them.