MOBILE PHONE SCAMS

Texts declaring prizes may not be all they seem

Have you ever received a text message congratulating you on cash prize win? If so, you’re not alone.

Inside Out exposes a telephone network which provides a platform for bogus companies to cash in on premium rate lines.

Over 2 billion of these message were sent out last year. To collect these ‘prizes’, all people had to do was call a telephone - usually beginning with 0906.

Unfortunately, the calls are charged at premium rate, last several minutes and there was no cash prize at the end.

It's known as spamming and scamming - and it could be coming to a phone near you.

Cheated

Sheila Kenny spent £10.76 phoning up to claim her prize - which three months later has never arrived.

Sheila says, "It’s not a lot of money, but a lot if you are on a pension like we are."

Sheila's text did not result in a prize

"The message sounded so good. I thought you’ve got to speculate to accumulate."

"I feel cheated. It’s scary when you think how easy they can con people."

Stop the spam

Inside Out traced some of the text messages to two companies - Zmax and KT promotions. Actually contacting these companies was difficult, as their addresses were bogus.

Inside Out discovered that companies like Zmax and KT promotions have to rent their premium rate telephone lines from a network operator.

In this case, it’s a Leeds based company called Nexus Telecommunications. This shouldn’t be confused with any business of the same or a similar name.

The industry watchdog, the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS), is not happy with Nexus renting out its phone lines to spammers and scammers who breach its guidelines.

George Kidd, Director of ICSTIS says, "There’s only so much the regulator can do. It’s Nexus’ job to check the bonafides of companies they work with – to check they are happy to do business with them."

Darren Platt, Director of Nexus Telecommunications

Breach of guidelines

Inside Out caught up with Darren Platt, Director of Nexus Telecommunications. He has himself been fined for spamming and scamming with his company Teletime.

George Kidd says Mr Platt has breached the guidelines both as a service provider and a network operator. George says, "The phrase ‘should know better’ comes to mind."

"Darren Platt has been caught for spamming and scamming as an information provider, so as a network operator, he should know better."

"It’s worrying that he knows the system but as a network operator lets this sort of business go ahead."

Confrontation

When Inside Out confronted Mr Platt, he said he was trying to stop spamming and scamming on Nexus lines.

Mr Platt also said he was not responsible for the content of the lines.

Because of Darren Platt's failure to stop companies using his network's premium rate lines responsibly, Nexus Telecommunications runs the risk of losing its operator's licence.

Final chance

The watchdog tells Inside Out that if NEXUS breach one more guideline, they will be reported to OFTEL.

If that happens, OFTEL could go to the Department of Trade and Industry and get Nexus closed down.

In the meantime, people should be aware that many telephone numbers beginning 0906 are legitimate. But if you get a text promising you something for nothing, you may be best pressing ‘delete’.

If you are concerned, you can complain about a premium rate telephone line at the regulator's website, shown below.