BEWARE OF FACEBOOK GIMMICKS

[Bob B]

Hi there Guys & Gals. I thought I should say something about a bad experience I just had regarding Facebook and friends sending each other different types of tests and the likes, etc,etc.

I assume most of you younger people are aware of the costs involved should you involve yourself in one of these stupid tests or maybe your not.

Unfortunately for me I sensed there may be a small cost involved but nothing like the one I experienced. This type of site is a new experience for me and so when I received and invite from Bruce to test my IQ I accerpted his challenge.

After completing the test the site asked if I wanted them to send me the results via a Text Message. Like a dill I said yes as I was curious to see how I went. I received my results which I thought were pretty good but the TM asked if I would like to try again to see if I can improve my results.

Then I realised this may be one of those sites that rip you off so I left it at that. Then I recieved another TM asking if I wanted to enter into some another test. I decided not to enter due to my suspicions and deleted it.

Then I received a couple more offers and decided I'd had enough and seen a number that said "if I didn't want to continue receiving the TM's text the following to cancel". So I did it straight away and thought thank god I did that as it could have been a scam.

Unfortunately, my suspisions were correct. I was checking my bank account yesterday as I was expecting a tranfer from and Ebay sale and seen my Vodafone direct debit was higher than usual.

So, I opened my Vodafone account and seen there were 4 entries made @ $6.00 a pop and the worst thing was they were made @ 1 second intervals. Bugger me dead $24.00 for 4 seconds is bloody good money.

So, in hindsight my IQ test was wasted and it cost me $24.00 to find out I was a d'head.

I get onto Vodafone who are fully aware of the scams but say they are not responsible. Unfortunately they get billed and so they pass it onto us. I did have some choice words regarding the scammers but suggested it would be in their interest to let their Vodafone users know of these termites.

The operator gave me their 1300 number which I phoned and after some time of arguing my case they decided to refund half of the $24.00 and for me to contact their web site for the balance. Don't be surprised if you can hear the other operators in the back ground taking more complaints.

When I asked her where the call centre was she said New Southy Wales, LOL. I asked what suburb she couldn't give out that sort of information. But, when she asked my for my details to post the cheque she didn't know where South Australia was LOL. My guess is she's Philipino and had a Yanky trainer.

Any way, they call them selves, "Mobile to Mobile Finger" seems very appropriate don't you think? Their number is 1300 730 820 and their website page is www.mobilesevicedesk.com I wrote them a nice letter of my concerns and reasons for a complete refund which I will be surprised to see if it ever happens.

I realise it's not Facebooks problem but some of you guys and gals who use Facebook my be as dumb as me and fall for this crap.

SO, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, DON'T SEND ME ANY MORE INVITATIONS THAT REQUIRE MY MOBILE NUMBER. I DON'T CARE IF YOU LIKE ME, HAVE A CRUSH ON ME OR THINK I SHOULD TAKE A TEST.

[bennymacca]

bad luck bob, it is very easy to fall for these scams

there is a very very simple solution to this

NEVER EVER get anything sent to you by text - or if you do, read the fine print very very carefully.

also, can i ask another question? how is it vodaphones fault that you got charged 24 dollars for this? they are a service provider, it is not their prerogative to tell people, dodgy or otherwise, how to use the service.

so the people you should be made at are the dodgy companies, not vodaphone

[maccatak11]

unfortunately benny the cunt is correct. How are Vodafone to know that you didn't know about the $6 per message and had agreed to pay this amount.

It would be shooting the text messenger.

But yes that does suck bob, a very easy situation to find yourself in. I guess its a lesson learned for you and for everyone...

[Bob B]

I meant to say I did have some choice words to say about the scammers not Vodafone so I have just change it. Silly bloody me was thinking it would be a 22 cent fee LOL.

Here's the TM #19741975 that I received.

[Bacon]

Yeah, they pray on the unsuspecting, and usually on the laziness of people. Especially when you don't know they are charging YOU to send a text to you. You sign up once, then ANY message they send, even if it's an AD for them, they charge the RECEIVER.

Could you imagine going to Coles, and them charging YOU $4 at the end, because they sent you a catalogue?

There really should be legislative changes (like you are charged for the first message and after replies, but not for random marketing they send out)

[Brett Kay]

Bob,

If someone asks you for your mobile number online, and it is not in a billing section. Don't give it out.

Its like reading the fine print on some of the TV ad's for ringtones. First ringtone free. THen a weekly subscription of 6.95 plus $3 for each ringtone you download, and your still up for your carriers download charges.

Though there have been some sneaky scams out there.

Best one i had was the missed call scam. Call back and wow i have the opportunity to win $1000 in cold hard cash, or get a free downloadable ring tone.

Now work out the mechanics on this, cost them nothing to call you (didn't connect), Costs you money to call them, probably on a premium line. Then you have to phone another number or SMS to go in the draw to win the prize or get the ringtone, Costs your more money plus fees.

This got reported to the ACCC but still gets a mention every once in a while.

Other scams that are out there, Advance fee scams (419, Got a billion dollars from a dead uncle in Africe.) Phisher, get random emails from Bank of America asking for my personal details and banking codes, and my PIN number.

Identity theft is pretty big.

One situation i got involved in was when my bank phoned me up about a charge on my credit card from Itunes for 1.00. They said was i up at 4am. And i said no. They said they would deny it, and resend my a new credit card number and so forth.

Good for the bank, but the scam i had been told about was the bank will call you up, ask for some details, say that a charge was going to be denied and that the charge was some big number $699. When you get your bank statement, you know that the charge is being reversed. and should be all fine, the next statement well hello the charge is still there, call the bank, the time to file a claim has expired and your stuck with a $699 charge and also no fall back to catch the scammers.

In my situation after the phone call had ended, i called my bank on the helpline number and checked. The bank had called and not scammers.

So far i have gone through 3 credit card numbers. First one got compromised in the 2003 Visa/Mastercard US hacking incident. The second one was cancelled after the above incident, and the third one is my current one.

Sorry for the long story, but scamming is serious business. Just be glad it was only $24 dollars and not a few grand.

[Chelsea4thewin]

haha ur IQ must of been pretty low if u fell for that

[BigPete33]

Beat me to it Steve

Bob, we've had a similar discussion before which in shortened form went along the lines of "don't ever fricken click on anything".

Maybe ring Vodafone back up and thank them very much for allowing you a credit for something that had absolutely nothing to do with them.

I'm glad to hear it got stopped fairly quickly though.

[Nevah play JJ]

I am so excited

Can you believe I am about to become millionaire??
All I had to do was give some nice Nigerian men my bank account details and all they wanted to do was deposit some money in my account.

When the payment comes through beers all round.
Carlsberg for Pete!

[Origami]

I am so excited

Can you believe I am about to become millionaire??
All I had to do was give some nice Nigerian men my bank account details and all they wanted to do was deposit some money in my account.

When the payment comes through beers all round.
Carlsberg for Pete!

join the que dear....he is sending me mine next 7-10 days seems the Phillipines also has nice rich men...