You could win an iPad, so start bidding!
Hot electronics are commonly used to entice victims into a
shakedown. A pop-up ad on the computer invites the user to bid on an iPad,
laptop PC, or wide-screen TV, but the user must include the user cell-phone
number to play. Submitting the the user to bid sends a text message to the user
cell phone that, whether the user respond or not, may authorize an unwanted
$9.99 a month or more subscription to some useless service. The charge gets
tacked onto the user cell-phone bill, where the user are unlikely to notice it.
Cramming. The auction is smoke and mirrors designed to
capture user cell-phone number to place unauthorized charges on the user bill,
a practice called cramming. Unlike numbers for landlines, cell-phone numbers
aren’t published in directories, so scammers must be underhanded to get it.
Cell-phone companies ( IDA, SingTel,
StarHub & M1 ), which can collect a
few dollars or more commissions per charge, claim that wireless cramming isn’t
a problem. But we found 480,000 alleged cell-cramming victims in one
case, and in 2011 a Senate committee investigation concluded that landline and
cell-phone crammers could be fleecing $2 billion a year from consumers.
“We have multiple wireless-cramming investigations under
way,” says Vladeck at the FTC, “and we’re quite quickly seeing the migration of
cramming from landline to wireless phones.”
The user demand refunds from the cell phone provider that
the user has been crammed. Why the wireless and landline carriers never block
all third-party billing to user account, and why the previous bills don't stop
cramming charges ?
There have been multitudes of reports of Teracomm Asia
Pacific Pte Ltd / Allterco Pte Ltd scamming from SingTel, StarHub & M1
users in Singapore.
Might I ask why even after so much pain that so many users
are going through, why is this third party not blacklisted from going through
your network and blocked from charging people?!
Since the IDA, SingTel, StarHub & M1 management does not
want to do anything about it and refuses to waiver the charges, The user have
no choice but to accept this third-party's unreasonable "kindness" of
partial waiver.
SingTel, Starhub & M1 and was told that is only a bill
collector. How disappointing when they are in the know that their business
partners are doing unscrupulous business with complaints from people like us and
yet they want to take an ostrich approach. We should bring this up to the
opposition party to protect Singaporeans about this matter if our present PAP government
cannot protect us. But please, for the sake of other customers of SingTel,
StarHub, M1 Mobile who are potential victims, please stop this from happening
in the future.
It seems that this co. has a neverending abyss of complaints
from consumers who have been hoodwinked into something they never wanted.
Yes they were keen on the prize, or curious about the
competition. But no, they did not want to subscribe to some lame excuse to
overcharge users for useless sms trivia.
I wonder how business owners like this live with continually
ripping off their customers (willing ones at that).
I agreed to Veela if the telecom operator is not even bother
and not helping on this issue for the customer then how could we trust them. I
am also wondering where do this stupid company get all our mobile number from?
Is either they get our number from our telecom operator who selling them and
earn commission on every charges or someone in the telecom company making some
extra income on selling our number to them.
I have make an official complaint to Infocomm Development
Authority of Singapore, Consumers Association of Singapore, Ministry of
Communications and Information, Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau &
PAP Government ( Minister Yaacob Ibrahim ).
This is an stupid
loophole policy of Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore created some big
loopholes that criminals of this company to scam our singaporean money.
Can you look into this
matter urgently to help our fellow singaporean to break this crime case !!!
This is very obvious of internal
corruption of Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore approved all the
mobile companies ( SingTel, StarHub & M1 ), which can collect a few dollars
or more commissions per charge, claim that wireless cramming is not a problem. The
Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau should check on this case, to find out who's is the real 'culprit' behind this cheating scams policy constructions !
That's Daylight Robbery
and many victim got conned by Teracomm Asia Pacific Pte Ltd / Allterco
Pte Ltd. I hope justice will come one day.
- Hi Kwang,
I have the same problem now. Would you be able to share how you were able to resolve this problem please???
- iam a victim too. i am still taking up the issue with starhub who admitted leaking my number to them vijust2@gmail.com
- Hi Kwang,
My dad is a victim too and was charged $204 and I have tried calling them but to no avail. Is there anyway we can publicise this on newspaper so people will be aware of this Teracomm Asia SMS scam?
And if you happen to resolve this problem, can you share how? Btw, I am a Singtel user.
Thanks!
Dee
- I totally agree with you this fraud company sent automated SMS to me 5 SMS and charged $15. When I called Starhub they said they can't do much about it so I called Teracomm but the girl whom I inquired about the amount she hung up the phone during the conversation.
akino69
- I so naive to response to this stupid survey and was shocked to see the 1st sms to me that I have initiated the questions and will be charged $3 each. I called StarHub but they refer me to the company, Teracomm. I was very pissed when the girl from teracomm said the disclaimer stated very clearly. But I did not see it only when they send me stupid question again with $3 behind. How can StarHub/M1/ Singtel not to do anything or IDA. They are the one who issue the short code to these company.
- Hi all, this Teracomm is still advertising in banner ads etc. and I nearly fell into it and thank goodness this site helped me avoid a financial scam. I know how to pursue this type of matter so if you would like to find out more, please let me know.
- Yes... it was just happened to me recently, and the girl named IVY - sounded like a philipion was very rude and don't care to even entertain... and claimed that I should know what I did myself.. I think they are just too RUDE and thinking that no one can do anything to them. You guys were right, there were no charges applied in the beginning, only after 1 or 2 sms, then suddenly found the $3 charges there. and the first time response of "WIN" was $9. I think should lodge a Police report and let the authority check on them... this is too much of a CHEATING to Consumer.. the other way is to report to consumer rights Department??? @Rykel, any suggestion how to deal with it? We need to stop them before more people get cheated!!!!
- Help! My mum-in-law is a victim of Teracomm ipad scam and her bill is 1700+! Starhub emailed her that they are just a billing agent and not involved in this. Her bill is the biggest amount I have read in all the forums so far. Can someone offer advice on how to get the charges waived?
- Same here got bill of 570$ from Teracomm thru starhub and reported to IDA and now waiting IDA reply
- thanks for speaking with me.
Singtel told us can bar Premium Rate Service by calling *25625 and responding to the SMS. It's a free singtel service.
We should band together to bring Teracomm down and other scammers down. I booked 7 July 2012 from 10 AM Speaker's Corner at Hong Lim Park to talk about this. Can I have your support? Please reply to this. - M1, Singtel and StarHub is a related mobile company of making this kind of scam money.
IDA and Case also not interested to respond.
After so many complaints, No respond from singapore government also.
Do you think they are also related with this scam also ?
To understand how they are related scam, go to this wed link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9MQAfh-bCE&feature=youtube_gdata_player - All this people is the members of ( Teracomm Asia Pacific Pte Ltd ) is a ( Scams Company ) link:
http://www.facebook.com/damienyeong
More news coming out soon !!!
- I received a billing statement from StarHub dated 3/8/12. One of the charges was "Premium Services" by Teracomm Asia Pacific Pte Ltd for "20Dwlds" at $3.00 each, total $60.0000.
Teracomm Asia Pacific Pte Ltd said that they have been sending me weekly reminders (via SMS which I never read) about my subscription, links to download, and instruction on how to STOP the subscription. Since I nenver opened their SMSs, how would I know that I was being charged? Why should I pay for any service which I have never selected any download or product? Wendy - Beware! This bunch of Bulgaria crooks have changed name to ALLTERCO. I have spent the whole morning talking to Singtel, CASE and IDA, but not much help also. Good luck to consumers!!
- nice posting collection of Cheating sms
- DO NOT PAY TO TERACOMM -
I repeat !
DO NOT PAY TO TERACOMM -
I HAD MY COMMANDOS SURROUNDED AND SURVEY THEIR TEMPLE STREET OFFICE ! THE MOMENT IS RIPE, MY COMMANDOS WILL WIPE OUT THIS TERROR CELL ! - i book speaker's corner and inviting the media to cover us -- can you come? 21 July 2012 at 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM....what language can you speak and can you speak to the media?
please join the conversations at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Teracomm-Daylight-Robbery/311418038949613
thanks! - Went onto wwww.inrent.com.au (legit company associated with renting goods through Retravision etc) to see if I could log in to to see how long I have before I can upgrade a couple of items and was directed to do a survey for my local are. 3 simple questions; are you male/female, how often have you visited this site, and do you think you will visit this site again in the future. Then on submission, was offered a prize, an Iphone or an Ipad. Luckily I read below about signing up for messages, so much per week blah blah, blah. Checked the terms and conditions and saw no reference to Australia at all, let alone Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria etc. It also used the term 'cell phone' - good giveaway its probably a US company or some other overseas company. Decided to do a google search for TERACOMM ASIA PACIFIC to look for scam info (had a gut feeling) - and well, here I am....!
Just surprised though that a legitimate financial company based in Australia such as InRent would hire them to do a survey. Or maybe they didn't and it was a spambot? Hmmm really am confused, but thought I would add this experience on here anyway.
PS The effort I went through to try all the methods of publishing, then having to create a blog profile (something I won't really be using), getting a few error pages, switching to Google, and then having to create an account with them was far more time consuming and an irritating annoyance than the Teracomm site. All this just to post. Luckily I have a habit of selecting highlight/copy before posting or else I would have had to type this out around 6 times. Should be open to guests to comment rather than the rigmaroll (sp?) of having to create account/s just to make one post and forget I have them after this. - Thank you Kwang for your posting on this. I got con by Terracomm on 14 July 2012 in exactly the same way you described it. Mine was about 150 sms which I think was local sms and should be covered by Starhub since I have free 500 local sms. Time taken for being conned is about 30 minutes. I was asked to pay $189 through Starhub. How can a local usage be charged for such a high fee. It's daylight robbery. Like yourself, I dont want to pay for this kind of scam. I wrote to Starhub and was told that Starhub is only a bill collector. How disappointing when they are in the know that their business partners are doing unscrupulous business with comlpains from people like us and yet they want to take an ostrich approach. I went to the police station to make a report today but was told that it's about billing. So not appropriate place to report. I have yet to see an MP about this. But you are absolutely right that we should bring this up to the opposition party to protect Singaporeans about this matter if our present govt cannot protect us.
- The worst part was I didn't even know what the sms was all about as I was also distracted by the fast incoming questions. But I was rendered defenseless when Terracom pointed out that I was informed of the rates through the sms. What can I say! Anyway, I decided to terminated my giro payment and pay only my monthly mobile subscription. I don't know what Starhub and Terracomm are going to do. Will wait and see what happens.
- Just receive a bill from Singtel and to my surprise I had been conned also but this becomes funny on my case and I had to lodge a complaint yet.
The subscrition for Singtel that I have was for my mobile phone that is for home use, I had a separate line for my own use, my home mobile line was locked for data and therefore nobody can used it except for voice call.
SURPRISINGLY! I WAS BILLED FOR 29 DOWNLOADS. THERE WAS NOT EVEN AN SMS DONE AS DESCRIBED ON THE POST ABOVE! How could I be charge for downloads when I dont have any data active. - Beware! This bunch of Bulgaria crooks have changed name to ALLTERCO. I have spend the whole morning talking to Singtel, CASE and IDA, but not much help also. Good luck to consumers!!
- I am a VICTIM too !
I hate TERACOMM ! If I am a skilled hacker, I'll hacker the SHIT out of their website! One bro mentioned, TERACOMM is able to collaborate with SINGTEL, M1, STARHUB .. it goes to show their influence! Scary thou, like some kind of DARK N POWERFUL SYNDICATED EVIL-BRO ! - TERACOMM is global !
However, seems like they only got complaint be Singaporeans only !
Ha ha ! Teracomm, you come to the wrong place to cheat !
You get nothing but shoot ! - Went onto wwww.inrent.com.au (legit company associated with renting goods through Retravision etc) to see if I could log in to to see how long I have before I can upgrade a couple of items and was directed to do a survey for my local are. 3 simple questions; are you male/female, how often have you visited this site, and do you think you will visit this site again in the future. Then on submission, was offered a prize, an Iphone or an Ipad. Luckily I read below about signing up for messages, so much per week blah blah, blah. Checked the terms and conditions and saw no reference to Australia at all, let alone Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria etc. It also used the term 'cell phone' - good giveaway its probably a US company or some other overseas company. Decided to do a google search for TERACOMM ASIA PACIFIC to look for scam info (had a gut feeling) - and well, here I am....!
Just surprised though that a legitimate financial company based in Australia such as InRent would hire them to do a survey. Or maybe they didn't and it was a spambot? Hmmm really am confused, but thought I would add this experience on here anyway.
PS The effort I went through to try all the methods of publishing, then having to create a blog profile (something I won't really be using), getting a few error pages, switching to Google, and then having to create an account with them was far more time consuming and an irritating annoyance than the Teracomm site. All this just to post. Luckily I have a habit of selecting highlight/copy before posting or else I would have had to type this out around 6 times. Should be open to guests to comment rather than the rigmaroll (sp?) of having to create account/s just to make one post and forget I have them after this. - M1, Singtel and StarHub is a related mobile company of making this kind of scam money.
To understand how they are related scam, go to this wed link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9MQAfh-bCE&feature=youtube_gdata_player - IDA and Case also not interested to respond.
After so many complaints, No respond from singapore government also.
Do you think they are also related with this scam also ? - Thank you Kwang for your posting on this. I got con by Terracomm on 14 July 2012 in exactly the same way you described it. Mine was about 150 sms which I think was local sms and should be covered by Starhub since I have free 500 local sms. Time taken for being conned is about 30 minutes. I was asked to pay $189 through Starhub. How can a local usage be charged for such a high fee. It's daylight robbery. Like yourself, I dont want to pay for this kind of scam. I wrote to Starhub and was told that Starhub is only a bill collector. How disappointing when they are in the know that their business partners are doing unscrupulous business with comlpains from people like us and yet they want to take an ostrich approach. I went to the police station to make a report today but was told that it's about billing. So not appropriate place to report. I have yet to see an MP about this. But you are absolutely right that we should bring this up to the opposition party to protect Singaporeans about this matter if our present govt cannot protect us.
-
- DO NOT PAY TO TERACOMM -
I repeat !
DO NOT PAY TO TERACOMM -
I HAD MY COMMANDOS SURROUNDED AND SURVEY THEIR TEMPLE STREET OFFICE ! THE MOMENT IS RIPE, MY COMMANDOS WILL WIPE OUT THIS TERROR CELL !
Same here, i also got same issue in August bill of 795$, after receiving my phone bill,I was shocked and didn't understand why Starhub charged me such amount.Then I called to Terracomm and got a contact with one lady.But she is very rude and didn't explain properly. After finished my call,I received one message from them which is " U've been removed from our marketing data base.U've got 0pts.Winners will be notified at end of promotional period.Terms? playmo.sg. Help?66319331".Actually I couldn't pay bill for such scam .
November 3, 2012 1:24 AM44 RESPONSES TO “SMS TO WIN?…RATHER IT IS TO GET CONNED….”
I was conned $12..
Is they anything we can do about this?
Sam Wong
I’ve tried calling Sybase365 hotline 68384430 as stated on Singtel’s bill but was informed by a voice recording stating that the customer service line had been changed to 65713999.
condition stated. If there is, I should have click on it and nothing pop up. I remember wondering how to get pass the screen and look for button to close the screen, but it cannot be closed.
Alamak! Even NKF, need to pay $5 or $10 to enter charity draws.
Call up your phone operator and told them you are not going to pay the bill if you did not send in any answer at all.
Wish justice will come one day. For those who get conned, will understand how I feel.
I told case that i am not claiming the money, just to complaint.
Anyone who see this website and have been sabo, can go to thehttp://www.ida.gov.sg to make known your cause.
I hope it helps.
Eakky
If U did not enter your handphone number yourself, tell them so. However the term and conditions must not be in the webpage stating that the question is paid.
it is cheating case. Go and file a report if u are sure it is not any of your friends or families members entering it in the hope that you win the prize.
No ” whether you want to continue with the game and get charged altogether $40 (10 question).”
stating your case.
what would happen? Would we be still billed,
including the VIPS ?!
Can go to jail. Just to mention the above, to identify what a possible danger it poses to evey Singaporean.
I agreed to Veela if the telecom operator is not even bother and not helping on this issue for the customer then how could we trust them. I am also wondering where do this stupid company get all our mobile number from? Is either they get our number from our telecom operator who selling them and earn commission on every charges or someone in the telecom company making some extra income on selling our number to them.
I definately going to log a police report and also log to CASE toward this company.
there were ‘conned’ by the Sybase365.
‘conned’ into believing that she ‘won an i-Phone’ by just answering 2 questions.
Obviously the terms and conditions were there but how to stop an euphoric mind
from grabing the chance “of winning an iPhone” from giving off her Name (Mrs Tan)
and handphone (9xxxxxxx) to the next requested pop-up screen.
she saw that a S$4 charge to be levied she just wanted to cancel it. Unfortunately
she hit the wrong button and sent off an unanswered reply. Subsequently she
received more SMS which she did not reply (I was told that there were 3 more
premium messages sent). I was told that even without replying to the 3 premium sms
I would still be charged S$4.00 for each of the sms.
service/content provider ‘throw’ its services upon you without your choice of rejecting?
Collobrating (in collecting monetary fees) with content providers with NO VALUED ADDED
SERVICES!
forrays.
link where I can check for myself how this thing works.
fee from the public seriously.
Alan Tan
2. I called Sybase365, took me ages to get in touch with the hotline personel, nothing
can be drawn from her except I have to bear the S$16.00 charges.
3. Spoke to Shela of IDA, encourage me to write to IDA and it will look into the matter with both
(Starhub and Sybase365)
4. Called CASE, I will have to pay S$10.00 fee for them to write a letter to Sybase365, no guarantee
that I can get off the S$16.00 charges.
5. Was told that such lucky draw needed police permit, but I have not call SPF yet.
Now I am not even sure whether I was wrong or not. I really cannot remember I saw the term and conditions in my email.. but my memory is not that good. I just let the matter rest.
Sherry Teo.
6/24/2008 18:28 out SG-72233-STOP 72233: We received your cancellation message. You will be unsubscribed within a few minutes. 96986876 52503 0
6/24/2008 18:28 in SG-72233-STOP stop 96986876 52503 0
6/24/2008 14:06 out SG-72233-IPHONE TRIVIA: play 4 cool prizes! Nxt round starts tomorrow. NB: From July 1 subscription changed to 3qs/wk. $4/q. Info:wixawin.com/65713999. To end txt stop to 72233 96986876 52503 0
6/18/2008 14:05 out SG-72233-IPHONE Play for Game Boy Advance + 2 games! Q1: Which tennis player won the ’08 French Open? A: Rafael Nadal or B: Andre Agassi. Txt NOW A or NOW B to 72233! $4 charge 96986876 52503 400
6/17/2008 20:00 out SG-72233-IPHONE Good luck with winning the iPhone! 1st Q. Who is the co-founder of Apple? A: Bill Gates or B: Steve Jobs. Text IPHONE A or IPHONE B to 72233! S$4 charged 96986876 52503 400
6/17/2008 20:00 out SG-72233-IPHONE Welcome to trivia! It’s ur chance to win cool prizes. Info: http://www.wixawin.com / 6571 3999, subscription service max 10qs/month, $4/q, 2 end text stop to 72233. 96986876 52503 0
6/17/2008 20:00 in SG-72233-IPHONE Iphone 96986876 52503 0
6/17/2008 19:57 out SG-72233-JM0 Please text IPHONE to 72233 to confirm your entry. Join now and have a chance to win an Apple iPhone! Premium service, $4/q. Info: wixawin.com / 6571 3999 96986876 52501 0
Kimmi Goh
IDA Corporate Helpdesk
8 Temasek Boulevard, #14-00, Suntec Tower Three, Singapore 038988 :: Tel: +65 6211 0888 :: Fax: +65 6211 2222
The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) is committed to growing Singapore into a dynamic global infocomm hub. IDA uses an integrated approach to developing info-communications in Singapore. This involves nurturing a competitive telecoms market as well as a conducive business environment with programmes and schemes for both local and international companies. Visit IDA’s website at http://www.ida.gov.sg. For enquiries, email toinfo@ida.gov.sg.
NOTICE: This e-mail (including any attachments) may contain confidential or legally privileged information. Any unauthorised use, retention, reproduction or disclosure is prohibited and may attract civil and criminal penalties. If this e-mail has been sent to you in error, please delete it and notify us immediately.
To IDA Info/IDA/SINGOV@SINGOV
cc
Subject RE: Log no: 38173 – Complaints against Sysbase365 – Tmg Services.
I called the next day, and the staff who picked up the call claimed that based on company record, I did not called at all when I request again for the term and
I wait and go to both – yahoo and hotmail accounts. Nothing received and feedback to her.
I have lodge a police report against them and is advised to go to CASE.
Sherry Teo Lay Teen
Joy
joyfang@sph.com.sg
I found myself doing / buying /eating things that i told myself never to.
Now, i maintain a “never list” to remind myself.
It includes where/what not to eat, brands not to support, how to react to situations (e.g. someone cutting your queue), marketing calls, etc.
It includes lessons from others as well.
You will have more peace!
Guess why Germany win the first and loses the second match?
Guess why the telecom operators allowed such things.
I saw the solution is to send “STOP” to 72233
two said the service has been barred and two said need to check with 3rd party…
fed up with starhub. i never even click on anytime anywhere.. and called the company… some foreigner picked up and mumbled marbles…
lesson learnt: do not subscribe to unknown apps. Make sure you check the terms and cons before downloading the app.
Update: You can request your operator to block 'premium content services' on your mobile to prevent any sort of automatic responses scamming you. Just did that with Singtel.
What the hell it is!! Plan to report to Police but wonder they will keen on handling the case??
http://www.ifaq.gov.sg/
And this:
http://www.ida.gov.sg/
Share to increase awareness.