Shortcode new tactic for spam
August 21, 2007 at 1:50 am | In Complaints, Good to know, Malaysia, Technology | 10 CommentsJust not long ago I published a post on email spam, Spam mail from ex-president’s son and mentioning the latest tactic of using mobile phone or SMS, true enough today I received one myself on my phone.
Due to the recent coverage on abuse of shortcodes and complaints from the public and even the publishing of non-compliants shortcode provider by MCMC somewhat able to deter or delay the frequent spamming using shortcodes.
It doesn’t stop SMS spammers anyway, due to the lucrative profit of getting mobile users to download ringtones or wallpapers from their shortcodes. A few ringgit from a single number will generate quite a substantial sum of profit from a bigger number of “spammed-subscribers”.
The MCMC rule is, a consumer has to request the service directly from a shortcode, and download the product/service for a mobile number to be eligible for charges.
The abuse on such service previously is, even if no service has been requested, a shortcode will just simply spam a mobile number randomly or whatever lucky number algorithm they call it, and charge the unsuspected “spammee”. The mobile users only will know if they get a bill statement. Too bad for prepaid users, which is why they are suggesting for prepaid users to have monthly bill as well.
Fast forward, the big piece of cake is still there, everybody wants to have a bite of it. The solution is to simply use a mobile number. In this case, the sms I received from +60172956034 with SMS content “Hi Susan! U nak download sexy girl movie clip & MP3 kan? taip ON MOV dan SMS ke 32312 utk Movie. Htr ON HIT ke 36989 untuk MP3 Truetone. Free Reg! From: ANN “
Smart, right? It seems like a SMS sent to a mistaken recipient, but if the user is really interested, he/she is to type the actual request to the shortcode, to download and be charged. (Which is compliant!) Not sure if they are going to reveal the charges though.
Trying to call the number will not establish a phone conversation as what I have tried.
I believe the SIM card is used purely for spamming and slotted into a GSM modem to send out sms and with the call functionality disabled.
A check on the shortcode via google pointed me to Maxis’s hotlink ECP info search page.
The two shortcodes in the sms belonged to two different companies. Not sure if it is their own service, or their clients abused their system. One thing for sure, they should bear responsiblity for whatever business used on their shortcode.
32312 – MCOM MEDIA TECHNOLOGY SDN BHD
36989 – IONNEX SDN BHD
Anyone received such SMS?
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Hah, I’m also received that kind of SMS from Ionnex.. I wonder,is there an ‘INSIDER/S’ that ’selling’ customer’s info to this kind of company that try to ‘RAPE’ us?
Comment by Reezo — September 30, 2007 #
hi! my mobile no has been spammed also by the IONEXX Sdn bhd intruder i think or maybe their own inside person @ ‘man with mask behind the curtain’!! Gosh,,,what a foolish work that had been done by a dumb & dumber person..! can all of u imagine just after 2 days i respond by typing ON LOV and send to 36989,i lost rm3 every continous 3 days after that! they just give a sms contains such love text or something like that cost rm3 per delivery. Damn! moreover, after 2 days later, i got some URL address .net or something that enabled me to download some mp3 ringtones! (even my mobile didn’t has any mp3 system to support actually)then i tried to stop that ‘credit robbery’ by typing STOP ALL to 36989 but it’s didn’t work at all even their respond : THE SYSTEM IS NOT AVAILABLE. PLEASE TRY AGAIN LATER..>> I was so mad at that time & i called Celcom careline and they said until now my case in uner investigation & until now 27/10/2007 there is no respond from celcom careline & the spamming service is like to pause their activity.But, i want to warn to anybody who try to spam my mobile again & again i swear with no doubt i will report to Police station via Bussiness Crimininal Division…!!
All da best luck for celcom careline !!!!!
Comment by el hilmy — October 27, 2007 #
el hilmy,
I understand your frustration. It’s really bad that they give inconveniences and robbing of consumer money with such spamming tactics.
In your failure to solve your problem with your telco, try submitting a complaint to MCMC via this:
http://www.mcmc.gov.my/what_we_do/ins/ComplaintFormOnSpam.asp
I’m not very sure how efficient they are in handling consumers’ complaints though.
So please leave a comment if you happen to get any results from MCMC.
All the best, and don’t ever reply to those spam sms-es.
Comment by marvinlee — October 28, 2007 #
On the radar:
———————————————————
Ionnex Sdn Bhd (largest spammer – real spam using modem)
Last record of spam and scam started: 21 August 2007 – 23 April 2008
Total 8 months of day light robbery.
Here’s the latest one:
Ionnex has been using SPAM for months and Sex incentive messages to gain users. You would be surprise how come “Uncle Lim/Jeff/MCMC/Telco” did not take any action, because they are not in the victimize target.
The rogue SPAM has trace back to long time ago evidence here:
http://marvinlee.wordpress.com/2007/08/21/shortcode-new-tactic-for-spam/
(Read the *** below for past record, since August 2007)
Short code: 33225
Sender: 60172521147 (modem number)
Date: 23 Apr 2008 9.38am
Message: Sayang! Nak tengok movie clip Pretty Girl??? Htr ON HIT ke 33225 untuk movie clip yg best ini. FREE REG. ~Love Ann~
The trick & abuse:
1. Spam using modem (unsolicited spam).
2. Use sex movie to lure user sign ups
3. No pricing mentioned
4. No frequency of messages mentioned
5. Did not mention its a subscription service
All above valid as violation of guideline and compliance abuses, repeatedly abused for “months” and “Uncle Lim/Jeff/MCMC/Telco” are sleeping unnoticed. Under telcos precedence, the spammer should have been suspended permanently and refunded their robbery to all users the last few months since they are “knowingly abuse, directly rob users, repeatedly”!!! Why nobody report? Because the Uncle & gang only focus on sabotaging innocent players he deem personal hatred – he did not know this spammer has abused telcos and rank to top 5 post today.
The industry needed clear, healthy, focused regulation, not unnoticed, non-transparent, old fashion, old man dirty sabotage. Wake up!
Other Ionnex short codes:
32988
33112
33499
36989
Name: IONNEX SDN BHD
Address: Unit B-6-14, Block B, Megan Avenue II,12
Hotline 1: 03-21665481
Hotline 2: 016-3369221
————————————————–
*** Past Record in 21 August 2007
+60172956034 with SMS content “Hi Susan! U nak download sexy girl movie clip & MP3 kan? taip ON MOV dan SMS ke 32312 utk Movie. Htr ON HIT ke 36989 untuk MP3 Truetone. Free Reg! From: ANN “
Comment by jeff ooi buta buta diguna — April 25, 2008 #
Well! I too have received such SMS recently indicating this “+60174408115 Yang, nak tgk video hebat ku? Tulis ON YA dan htr ke number ni: 33112.
Macam-macam video dan MP3 menunggu Yang.Pdftrn FREE. I tunggu u, babe. Frm Lisa[Fwd Msg]
You know what!? I did subscribe ON YA 33112. Then send message to this number +60174408115 “Hi babe, I skrg tunggu video, tak ada satu pun”. Later I unsubscribed by using STOP ALL 33112.
After 6 hours ago, I received an incomming message, a video clip advertisement 1123144240828, and it played pepsi ads; its funny and laughable one.
Later I tried to subscribe again, this time I type SEXY 33112 and a message reply call IONNEX SDN BHD 03-21665481 9am – 5pm.
I did not call up but, unsubscribed by using STOP ALL to 33112.
Comment by Richard — May 15, 2008 #
Hi pang yau (friends) anyone who is not satisfied pls call this number to, maybe he can help us.
Company Name: Ionnex Sdn Bhd
Contact Person: Mr. HY Sia
Street Address: Unit B-6-14,12 Jln Yap Kwan Seng
City: Kuala Lumpur
Country/Region: Malaysia
Zip: 50450
Telephone: 60-3-21665480
Fax: 60-3-21664850
Comment by Richard — May 15, 2008 #
Yeah those blood sucker.
MCOM Media
32312, 39899
http://www.mcommedia.com/
Reason they switched shortcode because they wan to preserve their own shortcode which is 32312.
I strongly believed they use it for legal purposes such as IOD or 4D results.
So if MCMC banned shortcode, IONNEX yang kena.
Comment by Billy — July 7, 2008 #
To unsubscribe from 32312 try this
type STOP ALL and send to 32312 to unsubscribe all service
type OUT and send to 32312 to unsubscribe promo subscription
Comment by madbeef — July 5, 2009 #
hi everybody, please refer as attached my phone bill as below shown which the F***ker company sent me twice SMS by charge RM3 each !!! montly charge me around RM 100 more !!! Everybody have to be careful when receive SMS and dont ever try to activate it !!!
External Content Provider / Pembekal Kandungan Luaran
01/09/09 09:32:53 Ionnex SMS 33499]03-21665481 3.00
01/09/09 15:15:40 Ionnex SMS 33499]03-21665481 3.00
02/09/09 09:41:19 Ionnex SMS 33499]03-21665481 3.00
02/09/09 14:22:21 Ionnex SMS 33499]03-21665481 3.00
04/09/09 08:39:25 Ionnex SMS 33499]03-21665481 3.00
04/09/09 13:55:27 Ionnex SMS 33499]03-21665481 3.00
05/09/09 08:17:13 Ionnex SMS 33499]03-21665481 3.00
05/09/09 12:53:04 Ionnex SMS 33499]03-21665481 3.00
08/09/09 09:46:24 Ionnex SMS 33499]03-21665481 3.00
08/09/09 14:20:37 Ionnex SMS 33499]03-21665481 3.00
09/09/09 09:47:31 Ionnex SMS 33499]03-21665481 3.00
09/09/09 14:22:32 Ionnex SMS 33499]03-21665481 3.00
11/09/09 08:50:37 Ionnex SMS 33499]03-21665481 3.00
11/09/09 13:46:05 Ionnex SMS 33499]03-21665481 3.00
12/09/09 08:45:54 Ionnex SMS 33499]03-21665481 3.00
12/09/09 12:45:48 Ionnex SMS 33499]03-21665481 3.00
15/09/09 09:58:21 Ionnex SMS 33499]03-21665481 3.00
15/09/09 14:45:02 Ionnex SMS 33499]03-21665481 3.00
16/09/09 10:10:58 Ionnex SMS 33499]03-21665481 3.00
16/09/09 14:45:32 Ionnex SMS 33499]03-21665481 3.00
18/09/09 08:40:18 Ionnex SMS 33499]03-21665481 3.00
18/09/09 13:22:06 Ionnex SMS 33499]03-21665481 3.00
19/09/09 12:56:01 Ionnex SMS 33499]03-21665481 3.00
19/09/09 13:28:21 Ionnex SMS 33499]03-21665481 3.00
22/09/09 09:52:26 Ionnex SMS 33499]03-21665481 3.00
22/09/09 14:39:14 Ionnex SMS 33499]03-21665481 3.00
23/09/09 10:06:59 Ionnex SMS 33499]03-21665481 3.00
23/09/09 14:53:32 Ionnex SMS 33499]03-21665481 3.00
28 items RM 84.00
Comment by Doraemon — September 27, 2009 #
Hi,
Thanks to bring this things up. actually i dah kena..totall lost around RM100 for 3months. I’d never subcribe to this service at all but its still charge to my account from Sept 09 to Nov 09 and finally end-up, i terminate my telco number. If its happen to you, dun waste ur time @ any of the telco company. they wont refund it anyway..u shud contact the content provider to settle it. Please be carefull with 33499 shortcode. dun ever reply to this number in any way. They robe you evry month. I had made a complaint to MCMC (SKMM) but till now no respond from them. Kebal agaknya!!
Comment by Hizam — December 14, 2009 #