Junk Texts

[Brainonska511]

About a month and a half ago, my CC# got stolen somehow along with my phone number and e-mail. Since then, I've been getting junk texts from 778-93 saying:

Attn:Gov't offering credits and cash for Foreclosed homes! 3bd/2ba homes from $8k-$12k in your area! For free list, call 1-800-856-7104 To end reply stop

If I reply stop, am I opening myself up to even more junk text messages? I already filed a complaint with the FCC.

Edit:
Update 7-6-09

The FCC sent me back a letter saying something along the lines of the spam text messages were not in violation of the law and they would not investigate.

I ended up following the instructions in the text: replied with "Stop", haven't received any since. It was all from the same place too, just one every few days.

 

[James Bond]

I would just reply with stop. Couldn't be much worse than what you're already dealing with, right?

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: James Bond
I would just reply with stop. Couldn't be much worse than what you're already dealing with, right?

Well, right now, it's only a text once every day or so. So if I started getting more, then it would be worse...

I might try that though.

 

[krylon]

Are you on the DNC list?

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: krylon
Are you on the DNC list?

Yep.

 

[oiprocs]

PM me your number and I'll run a few tests to see if your ports are open.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

the real crime is that the providers can get away with charging you for this
blows my mind

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
the real crime is that the providers can get away with charging you for this
blows my mind

I get 250 txts/month and barely go through half of them, so at least I'm not incurring extra charges. It's just a nuisance at this point.

 

[BoomerD]

This is why I disabled texting on my phone nearly 10 years ago...I finally got fed up with the spam and left it turned off.

Every dammed time I'd enable texting, I'd get 2-3 spam texts per day...always from 000-000-0000 with some kind of fucking advertisement.

I had to fight with AT&T/Cingular/AT&T to get those charges dropped. (back in the 10 cents per text days)

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
the real crime is that the providers can get away with charging you for this
blows my mind

Not only do you pay to receive the spam. You pay to send a cancel message.

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
This is why I disabled texting on my phone nearly 10 years ago...I finally got fed up with the spam and left it turned off.

Every dammed time I'd enable texting, I'd get 2-3 spam texts per day...always from 000-000-0000 with some kind of fucking advertisement.

I had to fight with AT&T/Cingular/AT&T to get those charges dropped. (back in the 10 cents per text days)

That explains why you never returned my texts :brokenheart:

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: Leros

Originally posted by: BoomerD
This is why I disabled texting on my phone nearly 10 years ago...I finally got fed up with the spam and left it turned off.

Every dammed time I'd enable texting, I'd get 2-3 spam texts per day...always from 000-000-0000 with some kind of fucking advertisement.

I had to fight with AT&T/Cingular/AT&T to get those charges dropped. (back in the 10 cents per text days)

That explains why you never returned my texts :brokenheart:

Sorry dear girl...I TOLD you that it was never gonna work between us...

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: Leros

Originally posted by: BoomerD
This is why I disabled texting on my phone nearly 10 years ago...I finally got fed up with the spam and left it turned off.

Every dammed time I'd enable texting, I'd get 2-3 spam texts per day...always from 000-000-0000 with some kind of fucking advertisement.

I had to fight with AT&T/Cingular/AT&T to get those charges dropped. (back in the 10 cents per text days)

That explains why you never returned my texts :brokenheart:

Sorry dear girl...I TOLD you that it was never gonna work between us...

A man can dream...

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: Leros

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: Leros

Originally posted by: BoomerD
This is why I disabled texting on my phone nearly 10 years ago...I finally got fed up with the spam and left it turned off.

Every dammed time I'd enable texting, I'd get 2-3 spam texts per day...always from 000-000-0000 with some kind of fucking advertisement.

I had to fight with AT&T/Cingular/AT&T to get those charges dropped. (back in the 10 cents per text days)

That explains why you never returned my texts :brokenheart:

Sorry dear girl...I TOLD you that it was never gonna work between us...

A man can dream...

:heart: snorgle :heart:

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I got junk texts. They cost me 20 cents to receive. If I tried to reply with stop, it'd cost me another 20 cents.

...I don't even get complimentary lube.

 

[IEC]

Any updates? I'm getting texts from these shitfaces too, and it has a 800-280-6903 number at the bottom. Costing me $$$, already complained to the FCC but they said they couldn't do anything because I didn't provide enough info :disgust:

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
This is why I disabled texting on my phone nearly 10 years ago...I finally got fed up with the spam and left it turned off.

Every dammed time I'd enable texting, I'd get 2-3 spam texts per day...always from 000-000-0000 with some kind of fucking advertisement.

I had to fight with AT&T/Cingular/AT&T to get those charges dropped. (back in the 10 cents per text days)

10cents is cheap

 

[Nik]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: James Bond
I would just reply with stop. Couldn't be much worse than what you're already dealing with, right?

Well, right now, it's only a text once every day or so. So if I started getting more, then it would be worse...

I might try that though.

Remember, though, that if you reply to a spam email or click the remove-me link at the bottom, all you're doing is verifying to the spammer that the email address is valid and actively used.

I wouldn't risk that with your cell phone, you may end up getting more spam.

Have you tried calling your provider to tell them you're being harassed? They can start legal action or blacklist the number if necessary.

 

[ilvs]

Originally posted by: Nik

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: James Bond
I would just reply with stop. Couldn't be much worse than what you're already dealing with, right?

Well, right now, it's only a text once every day or so. So if I started getting more, then it would be worse...

I might try that though.

Remember, though, that if you reply to a spam email or click the remove-me link at the bottom, all you're doing is verifying to the spammer that the email address is valid and actively used.

I wouldn't risk that with your cell phone, you may end up getting more spam.

Have you tried calling your provider to tell them you're being harassed? They can start legal action or blacklist the number if necessary.

they'll usually attempt to charge you to block the number

 

[Nik]

Originally posted by: ilvs
they'll usually attempt to charge you to block the number

Good point! However, it may depend on the carrier.

 

[IEC]

Well I responded with a "stop". Others have stated that it worked for them, we'll see. I also signed up all the lines on the wireless plan for blocking data use/premium SMS through the carrier's website.

 

[SunSamurai]

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: BoomerD
This is why I disabled texting on my phone nearly 10 years ago...I finally got fed up with the spam and left it turned off.

Every dammed time I'd enable texting, I'd get 2-3 spam texts per day...always from 000-000-0000 with some kind of fucking advertisement.

I had to fight with AT&T/Cingular/AT&T to get those charges dropped. (back in the 10 cents per text days)

10cents is cheap

Sure if you compare it to other companies. But that's like comparing two different criminals.

In the grand scheme of texting, all phone companies are ripping you the hell off. 1 txt = ~200byts of data. Meaning @ 10c, it would cost you $100 just to reload this page.

They are a modern day mofia.
If you don't believe that consider the following;
1. How many people are on their network
2. How many people have a texting plan
3. How many people get these texts and try and stop it.. repeatedly
4. How many people have to PAY to get a service to get it to stop (protection money?)
5. How many people accidentally press the browser button on their phone without a data plan (ive racked up several KB worth of data a month before having to find a way to shut it off.

Add all that up. A few KB here, and few txt there, times a few dozen million people.

 

[Brainonska511]

Updated OP.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: Nik

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: James Bond
I would just reply with stop. Couldn't be much worse than what you're already dealing with, right?

Well, right now, it's only a text once every day or so. So if I started getting more, then it would be worse...

I might try that though.

Remember, though, that if you reply to a spam email or click the remove-me link at the bottom, all you're doing is verifying to the spammer that the email address is valid and actively used.

I wouldn't risk that with your cell phone, you may end up getting more spam.

Have you tried calling your provider to tell them you're being harassed? They can start legal action or blacklist the number if necessary.

I had worried about this possibility, but after doing a small internet search with people getting similar messages from the same number, a few had mentioned that following the "reply with stop" instructions caused them to stop completely. Figured it was worth a shot before escalating it to Verizon.

 

[Nik]

Woot! :beer: