So, this has happened the last two months on my phone: random unsolicited text messages babbling about some stupid “challenge quiz fun facts” crap telling you to goto “the website” and notifying you that you are being charge $9.99.
A little research shows that this is happening all over the place. AT&T customers are aparently exposed to text based messaging fraud. It seems that scammers can simply charge you whatever they think they can get away with just by sending an unsolicited text message to your phone. That’s really stupid AT&T.
“Got three text messages in a matter of minutes. Did not reply to any of them. Called my wireless provider and there was already a $9.99/mo charge on my wireless bill. Charge was removed but no further blocking of third party charges was available unless I cancelled AT&T services that are provided by AT&T but billed by a third party, ugh. Filed a complaint with the attorney general’s office.”
http://www.smswatchdog.com/text-message-from/8668611606“I have been charged so many times that can not even count. I have called, faxed called my phone carrier multiple times. I have asked to be blocked from both companies it stops for awhile and then is start again. I have been charged as much as fifty dollars on one bill. Even when and if they give you your money you have to pay it first and wait for them to reimburse you. I wish I had the knowledge on how to litigate against them for stealing money right out of our pockets. If they charge $9.99 a month from say a thousand people and they get away that is that would be a class A FELONY….”
http://www.scambook.com/report/view/47431/Mobile-Media-8668611606-False-Advertising-for-9.99-on-12-14-2011
Just spoke with AT&T and they are well aware of the problem. They refunded the charge immediately & without any run-around & put 3rd party blocks on both of our phones. Hurrays!
The blocks are free and work with a pin system that they email the primary account holder.
The txt from the AT&T rep:
David P. Roberts
The wife hasn’t heard anything about this! Said she’d look into it.
This happened to me last month. I got the texts and ignored them thinking, hey they can’t possibly charge me for something I didn’t ask for or reply to… guess what, they can and do. A friend actually replied STOP to the texts within seconds and he still got billed for a month of service! Another friend went back and discovered 6 months worth of charges last year.
AT&T will tell you they only reverse charges within 60 days, however with some very loud complaining, they did relent and reverse my friends charges from last summer.
This has happened to me as well. The first time, AT&T assured me that I was not charged and they blocked third party apps from my phone.
I checked my bill again after two months and I was charged 9.99 for both months!
After calling AT&T, they refunded the money, told me that nothing was blocked the first time and that they were indeed blocking the charges now.
We will see….
This just happened to me!! I just spent 20 minutes on the phone with their Asian “customer service center,” and I’m going to call AT&T in the morning. This is absolutely ridiculous! Glad I found your blog post, though – it gives me hope that AT&T will take care of the charges without a hassle.
yep, somewhere up in at&t tech support this is a very known issue & they will take care of it for you. the lady i spoke with was in the states & seemed to be very familiar with it.
Thankss great blog