topic Re: Safari mobile lottery in Discussions & Feedback

Safari mobile lottery

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 15:46:48 GMT

Just had my latest bill and been charged £45 for Safari mobile lottery. Tried to find out how I've been charged for this unwanted item that I've never subscribed to but O2 say it's nothing to do with them. This is a complete scam that O2 go along with. Click on the Safari app and it comes up O2 so it must have something to do with them. Spoke to "customer services" and had to speak to a manager. I said I couldn't get through to Safari, which I couldn't, half hour on the phone before being cut off. Magically the manager got through to Safari and put me on to their customer service advisor. She said I had not not subscribed and this meant I had subscribed, a complete scam. I will have to pay the £45 I suppose but I've said if this is not unsubscribe as she said would happen I shall have to close my account and go elseware. I can not believe that a company the size of 02 collude in this scam and make it impossible to get any satisfaction but insist I'm fleeced and give in to their threats. Oh well you live and learn but please be aware of this situation. On a lighter note when I asked if I'd won anything in the lottery I was told I had not been lucky, the prize was a mobile phone.

Re: Safari mobile lottery

adamtemp64 — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 16:08:32 GMT

You need to contact the regulator for this phone pay plus as described in this guide http://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Pay-Monthly-and-Pay-Go/Have-you-fallen-for-or-been-conned-into-a-premium-rate-scam-What/td-p/968023

Re: Safari mobile lottery

MI5 — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 17:33:56 GMT

http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/
Go to the regulator for help, refunds and resolution.

Re: Safari mobile lottery

jonsie — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 17:40:12 GMT

Call the number listed for their customer service on the above link and then make a complaint on the phonepayplus website. With enough complaints the regulator will investigate and impose a large fine but it's down to us to register the complaint initially.

Re: Safari mobile lottery

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 01:26:05 GMT

I've had the same happen to me today! I noticed my bill was £45 pound higher than it usually is. I phoned 02 and they said it was from a Safari Mobile Lottery subscription. I don't gamble and never have I explained and was given a phone number to contact them to get a refund and cancel the subscription. When I called Safari Mobile and explained my situation, the girl said that I had subscribed and that they had sent me a verification text "which I had NOT subscribed and did NOT receive no such text message!". I asked her to tell me exactly how I subscribed to Safari Lottery and she said that I had been asked a question "How many legs does a horse have" to which I replied "4".. Well there you have it, I must have subscribed after all?!. 02 are to contact me within 3-5 days.

If your browsing the internet and get a pop up asking how many legs a horse has got DONT ANSWER!! LOL

Re: Safari mobile lottery

jonsie — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 05:16:43 GMT

Crazy how easy it is to be an unsuspecting subscriber.....

Re: Safari mobile lottery

MI5 — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 05:21:35 GMT

What a complete bunch of scam artists!

Re: Safari mobile lottery

Cleoriff — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 05:47:25 GMT

I wonder what would have happened if you answered 3 to that question? I suspect the outcome would have been the same? They weren't looking for you to give the right answer...all you needed to do was click on the link...

Re: Safari mobile lottery

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 16:13:06 GMT

I spoke with O2 about the same issue last night, but I am 100pc sure I did not sign up to anything, or click on anything to have this setup on my account. I have told them that I am going to the regulator, which I have done. They advised last night that they are aware that there is an issue with Safari Lottery and are looking into it and to check back in a few days. Complain, complain and keep complaining. O2 is the provider. They should not be allowing this scam to take place and I am one step away from closing my account at this stage!

Re: Safari mobile lottery

jonsie — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 16:20:43 GMT

I do know what you mean but O2 are not to know you didn't sign up willingly. It's down to the regulators to stamp down on these companies. They have told you there are many complaints about this particular scam so they will take action. You really should be contacting Safari mobile for reimbursement of the charges.

Re: Safari mobile lottery

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 21:17:41 GMT

Jonsie- I think 02 know fine well that their customers do not willingly sign up to be scammed by Safari Mobile Lottery aka Switchfire! The number I was given "02077982800" belongs to switchfire and they have been scamming people for years "a quick google of that number will confirm" so why on earth would 02 agree to give these scammers our money after taking thousands of complaints? Strange to say the least. Just out of curiosity, what date did they begin taking money from your accounts?

Re: Safari mobile lottery

jonsie — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 09:02:11 GMT

What I'm saying is that it is the responsibility of ourselves as customers to be wary about clicking on any links and then to deal with the problem ourselves. It's the regulators that deal with complaints and yes, I agree these scams have been going on for years. But O2 cannot possibly stand the loss by refunding everyone who inadvertently clicks on a link or enters a competition. Don't forget these cowboys are operating within current legislation and unless the regulators feel they are overstepping the boundary we are subject to following official routes of complaint.

We know they are scammers but they are being allowed to get away with it.

Re: Safari mobile lottery

Beenherebefore — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 08:57:35 GMT

Would you blame your ISP if you clicked on a spam/scam link showing on your laptop/PC ?

Re: Safari mobile lottery

Cleoriff — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 09:47:08 GMT

Also the fact remains that MANY people want this sort of service. They are happy to enter competitions, visit gambling sites and even watch ******. Their choice. Not for everyone but the advice is always don't click on links from FB or any other site. Nothing is free nowadays.

I see the forum filter bleeped out a short word meaning looking at sites with 'sexual content'

Re: Safari mobile lottery

Anonymous — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 09:51:10 GMT

I get what your saying Jonsie but it's the fact that 02 are willing to charge people for those scamming ****s even though I never signed for nothing and never gave permission for them to add charges. I know 02 can't take the loss for everyone that's scammed by Switchfire Ltd but what they can do and should have done years ago is impose a block to protect their customers!

Beenherebefore- No, why do you? If my ISP tried charging me for something I didn't want nor need you can bet I wouldn't be paying for it though!

Re: Safari mobile lottery

Anonymous — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 10:03:39 GMT

Cleoriff- I'm not talking about other sites as I know people like to gamble and watch ****. I'm talking about one site and that's Switchfire Ltd! They don't give people the option to buy, they try force it upon you. If you believe Switchfire/Safari Mobile Lottery gives people the option to subscribe feel free to post the link that gives people the option! As there is none..

Re: Safari mobile lottery

MI5 — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 10:03:42 GMT

Everyone would be a lot more comfortable if a block was put on by default (such as the 18+ one) which could then be lifted upon request.
Surely this is the best way to protect evryone from unwanted charges?
Maybe it requires Ofcom to make a ruling before something will change?

Re: Safari mobile lottery

Toby — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 10:07:21 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

Sorry to hear about this and welcome to the community. While its mostly not possible for O2 and other operators to control this kind of thing, I will report this experience to the team. How did the competition appear on your device exactly?

Re: Safari mobile lottery

Cleoriff — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 10:09:07 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Cleoriff- I'm not talking about other sites as I know people like to gamble and watch ****. I'm talking about one site and that's Switchfire Ltd! They don't give people the option to buy, they try force it upon you. If you believe Switchfire/Safari Mobile Lottery gives people the option to subscribe feel free to post the link that gives people the option! As there is none..

Yes I realise you were being specific about Switchfire @Anonymous BUT the conversation had wandered into clicking links for other sites so I added my post for general information.

Re: Safari mobile lottery

jonsie — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 10:09:08 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I get what your saying Jonsie but it's the fact that 02 are willing to charge people for those scamming ****s even though I never signed for nothing and never gave permission for them to add charges. I know 02 can't take the loss for everyone that's scammed by Switchfire Ltd but what they can do and should have done years ago is impose a block to protect their customers!

Beenherebefore- No, why do you? If my ISP tried charging me for something I didn't want nor need you can bet I wouldn't be paying for it though!

Don't forget that O2 are charged for this service and they merely pass the charge on to us as customers.