There's a lot of varieties in the SMS content and I'm going to list down those that I know of here(it might not be the exact same SMS, but I'm trying to input as close to the original..)..
1- asking for reload for those using prepaid services for the number that's used to send the SMS or another number by a close relative.
Usually the SMS sounds like this :
(in bahasa Indonesia ) "Ma/Pa, tolong beliin pulsa ke nomer ini. HPnya hilang. Ini pinjem HPnya temen."
(translation) "Mom/Dad, please reload the talktime to this number. My phone's lost. Right now I'm using a friends' phone."
This method is used to get talktime and based on luck of the scam. A bit hard to determine if it's true or not unless of course if you really have children with handphone or your spouse have done this before, thus making you to believe the SMS. If not, then from the SMS itself maybe if it address to the opposite gender than yourself, then it's a definite scam.
2- Asking for a certain amount of money transferred into a said bank and account number with a rather convincing (or not.. :P) reason..
(bahasa Indonesia) "Tolong transferin Mama/Papa ke rekening 'nama bank' 'nomer akun' ini. Tas/dompetnya tertinggal dirumah/dijambret. Ga ada uang untuk pulang."
(translation) "Please help Mom/Dad to transfer some money into this 'bank name' 'account number'. My bag/handbag/wallet/purse is left at home/stolen. I don't have money to get back home."
To get money transferred into the mentioned account bank. However, you should have known your spouse's bank and account number by now, right? Your spouse wouldn't suddenly revealed that they have a 'secret' savings account. :P and..of course when you transfer money to an account, if using the ATM machine, it'll first re-confirm with you the account number and account holder's name. So, from here you'd have known that it's already a scam. But then again, you might want to say that what if your spouse's really in trouble and the account holder is actually trying to help, right? So, think again..shouldn't the person trying to help give a small amount of money just to help your spouse to get back home, and if the amount's big for them or they're not willing, then how about asking for their account bank and number so you can re-pay them back later??? Or..shouldn't the person that 'wants' to help to at least lend their phone so your spouse can really make sure that he/she needs your help??? :P
And then, there's phone call fraud as well..usually claiming that your children/spouse is involved in an accident and now in the hospital and require an emergency operation but it could not be proceed as the hospital needs the payment up front. This method is usually the ones with higher rate of success as parents are worried about the safety/condition of their children and thus would have given anything to ensure their childs' safety and to top it, the scam is usually done by more than 1 person as the other might have to act as the doctor or hospital administrator in order to convince you. It could also be that it was your spouse or any other close relative that's involved in the accident..
So, this actually can be easily prevented if you can..
1- read between the lines of the SMS and it's intention
2- identify scam SMS (not everybody knows how...but it needs getting used to it to know)
3- DO NOT panic when receiving bad news through phone calls especially if it comes from unknown people.
What to do when you receive this kind of SMS or calls?
1- for SMS, IGNORE! If you're afraid that it really happens to your close ones, then maybe you could check back with them before you proceed. A short phone call to the sender wouldn't hurt to re-confirm the truth behind the SMS.
2- for calls, first, DON'T PANIC. Try to get as much information as possible from the caller such as how do they get your number, the hospital where your family member is treated.. After that, try to delay by bluffing the caller that you'll call them back after 'transferring' the amount said. Meanwhile, when you're off the phone, get as much information regarding the whereabouts of your closed ones - the school, the teachers, or if your child's on the way back home, then maybe calling your driver/housekeeper.. If your spouse or any other relative, then call their office, colleagues, driver.. Calling the hospital to confirm if there's such 'accident' happens that day before the call and the victims' name so you can make sure if it's really your family member or not.. When you're called again by the caller to rush the transfer, then delay them again by giving reasons.. When they're frustrated, they'd turn to threaten you that your close ones's in danger etc. Don't fall for it as nowadays the hospital would usually wait for a close relative to arrive at the hospital to proceed with treatment if it's possible to wait. And no matter how emergency the situation is, the hospital would've proceeded the treatment without 'advance' payment as they need to save the lives of people.
Then, in the first paragraph I mentioned that nowadays, these mobile fraud has forcefully taking the talktime of mobile phone users. It's usually connected with mobile content provider and done by sending an SMS. Once you open the SMS, then it'll activate the service immediately without first asking your agreement. Or it'll be activated when you replied the SMS. When this service is activated with your consent, it didn't give you the number to terminate the service which is often called the 'UNREG' number.
As for phone call fraud, the new method is done by 'listening' to your number and service provider. This is usually the 'hacking' method and done with a computer software. I can't explain details as I'm still learning on this as well. So, try to get used to not answering calls from an unknown number. If it's really important then the caller would've sent you an SMS/email or leave a voice message to inform that they called and with their phone number so you can call back.
Scams and theft happens because there's opportunity that makes it possible to happen, greediness that makes a person doesn't care how they get their income as long as they can reap some money or benefit out of it, and then there's also because of the lack of law in the country to protect the citizen from these kind of crime.
As a user, you should know what you're going to get by subscribing to a service, consider the pros and cons and how to stop the service when you don't it need it anymore. As for the governments, maybe what is needed is to create new laws and enforce it. For the service provider, a more clear information regarding the services provided and terms and conditions before subscription is allowed.
P.s/- for XL users you can check the services and terminate what you've subscribe to by calling *321#
So, be a wise user!! ;)
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone from Sinyal Bagus XL, Nyambung Teruuusss...!
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