Post by Midge on May 25, 2008 16:27:00 GMT -6
Brian (Spruance) asked me to pass this message along to our members:
I don't know if this will apply to you as the ad in question may just be limited to UK users, but just in case....
One of our members responded to a Google ad on GWD yesterday which offered a Free IQ Test but then invited the 'victim' to enter their cellphone number in order to have a chance to win £5000... !
Unfortunately, the member in question entered her cellphone and has now has now incurred several premium rate text charges of £3.00 each as a result and is having great difficulty resolving the problem.
I have reported it to Proboards but they either don't understand or aren't bothered...
support.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=support&action=display&thread=243120&page=1#2589450
So if they won't take it seriously, the only avenue open to me is to let as many people as possible know about it.
Basically, it is ok to do the IQ test but if you enter your email for the results you get a load of spam, and if you are (I'll be kind) 'gullible' enough to enter your cellphone number, you are landed with these premium rate charges.
So there you have it.
As the saying goes, if it seems too good to be true.... IT IS!
I didn't see the original ad myself, but I have been able to force the appearance of what I take to be the same one on our staff board. Despite Proboards' hand-wringing, I still contend that the people behind the ad are hoping that forum members will just blindly enter their cellphone numbers without any thought for the consequences.
Since I don't want anyone else to have the same unpleasant experience as our member has had, I thought I would just drop you a line in case you hadn't come across it yet.
One of our members responded to a Google ad on GWD yesterday which offered a Free IQ Test but then invited the 'victim' to enter their cellphone number in order to have a chance to win £5000... !
Unfortunately, the member in question entered her cellphone and has now has now incurred several premium rate text charges of £3.00 each as a result and is having great difficulty resolving the problem.
I have reported it to Proboards but they either don't understand or aren't bothered...
support.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=support&action=display&thread=243120&page=1#2589450
So if they won't take it seriously, the only avenue open to me is to let as many people as possible know about it.
Basically, it is ok to do the IQ test but if you enter your email for the results you get a load of spam, and if you are (I'll be kind) 'gullible' enough to enter your cellphone number, you are landed with these premium rate charges.
So there you have it.
As the saying goes, if it seems too good to be true.... IT IS!
I didn't see the original ad myself, but I have been able to force the appearance of what I take to be the same one on our staff board. Despite Proboards' hand-wringing, I still contend that the people behind the ad are hoping that forum members will just blindly enter their cellphone numbers without any thought for the consequences.
Since I don't want anyone else to have the same unpleasant experience as our member has had, I thought I would just drop you a line in case you hadn't come across it yet.
