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.
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.