topic Re: Facebook advert scam in Discussions & Feedback

Facebook advert scam

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 06:41:22 GMT

I was on the Facebook app Last night and I saw what I thought was an article on some new smart watch, it was an advert... When I opened it Is was ask to do a survey, it asked 3 questions:,
What do you prefer, apple or Android?
Large or small screens?
And I can't remember the last question but upon selecting an answer is received the following text

FreeMsg: Thank you for subscribing to Topikoo for £4.50 per week from Tekka until you text STOP to 62442. HELP? 03332021398

I had to text STOP but it's already charged me £4.50 plus what ever the standard charge for my reply was. Anyway it was just a heads up, someone is becoming a millionaire by ripping people off.

Re: Facebook advert scam

anticpated — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 06:53:24 GMT

One reason not to use facebook. Get adblock on your device or an equivalent. I always used the desktop version on my phone as it can't interact with your handset as much.

Re: Facebook advert scam

Cleoriff — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 07:05:50 GMT

I never click on anything FB related. Easy for me to say but must be really annoying when people find they have been scammed like this.

You can report it to the FB community

https://www.facebook.com/help/181495968648557

Then you should contact the company and demand your money back... Thanks for the heads up..

Re: Facebook advert scam

MI5 — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 08:21:16 GMT

Report it to the regulator too http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/

Re: Facebook advert scam

jonsie — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 08:48:31 GMT

Facebook is literally a gold mine for these type of scams. We like to think we are wise to it all but many people can be conned this way with youngsters particularly vulnerable and easy prey.

Re: Facebook advert scam

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 11:08:26 GMT

How did the advert get the mobile number to text?

Re: Facebook advert scam

Cleoriff — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 11:20:00 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
How did the advert get the mobile number to text?

I presume when the OP signed up to do the survey they were asked to input their mobile number?:smileysad:

Re: Facebook advert scam

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 11:52:00 GMT

No that's the thing, I didn't put any details in, it was just 3 questions, none of them personal so I can only presume the Facebook app gave them my number.

Re: Facebook advert scam

Cleoriff — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 12:05:18 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
No that's the thing, I didn't put any details in, it was just 3 questions, none of them personal so I can only presume the Facebook app gave them my number.

Then that's an outrageous breach of your privacy. I am sure you have to tick something to 'allow' FB to do that?

Or perhaps it's something you have to UNtick? Who really knows. FB is so intrusive and one of the reasons I now use it rarely..

Re: Facebook advert scam

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 13:04:07 GMT

If they are scammers I would imagine they don't care two hoots about your privacy, but normally permission has to be given for a facebook app to get your personal details. Either way a real heads up about the dangers of facebook - the golden rule with social media is assume everything you put there is available to the world, even if your profile is private.

Re: Facebook advert scam

perksie — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 13:17:33 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
No that's the thing, I didn't put any details in, it was just 3 questions, none of them personal so I can only presume the Facebook app gave them my number.

Check your privacy settings here: https://en-gb.facebook.com/help/393920637330807/

Re: Facebook advert scam

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 13:46:50 GMT

This happened to me but it was recipe, it asked me a few questions, level of easiness, time they take etc. no option that said I was subscribing to anything, I then got a text straight away, with same as in this otribal post. I've logged it with phone pay plus. See if they can give me my money back. It's not right at all

Re: Facebook advert scam

jonsie — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 15:00:10 GMT

If you look at Facebook permissions for the app is frightening just how much they want access to. One of the reasons I very rarely use the phone to access Facebook. Clicking on any link whether phone or PC is a risk always.

Re: Facebook advert scam

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 15:02:37 GMT

Aye kerry, I've taken the Facebook app off now, I don't want it to happen again And wanted to be sure people are aware of this sort of scam.

Re: Facebook advert scam

jonsie — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 15:03:44 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Aye kerry, I've taken the Facebook app off now, I don't want it to happen again And wanted to be sure people are aware of this sort of scam.

Good decision

Re: Facebook advert scam

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 07:32:03 GMT

The company has a terms and conditions page for that survey you took:

http://wap-uk.topikoo.com/p/13

Point 3 says you have a right to withdraw with a full refund within 14 days.

Send their support team an email and demand a refund

support@uk.topikoo.com

Also complain about them to the regulator

http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/

Re: Facebook advert scam

jonsie — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 07:49:00 GMT

Nice one ☺

Re: Facebook advert scam

Cleoriff — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 08:10:35 GMT

Thanks for that info @Anonymous It will be useful if we get anyone else with a similar problem

Re: Facebook advert scam

Anonymous — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 08:19:01 GMT

np @jonsie and @Cleoriff

Just an FYI I just spoke to o2 using their online chat and told them about this scam. They have refunded my £4.50. I have also text STOP to 62442 as well which is what o2 advised me to do

Still no response from support@uk.topikoo.com

I have also reported this company and number to PhonepayPlus and Facebook as spam.

Re: Facebook advert scam

Cleoriff — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 09:02:22 GMT

Hi @Anonymous

Really surprised that it was O2 that refunded you. (you must have got live chat on a good day)

Anyway pleased you got the refund. (Who knows... Topikoo may also refund!) Nope...I don't think so