olo
Today my mother got AD on her phone with "Android update", it was a pop-up
from one of normal sites she visit. So she touched "update now" as she
normally do with system messages about update... Then she confirmed, then she
got 2 SMS, in one that deal was finalized. WTF? I've checked with Orange and
indeed she was charged and subscription was started, 20 euro a month for some
3 shitty sms per week. They have turned this subscription off. THIS practices
should be stopped. This is really a plague, I see those on my desktop and
phone on regular basis, i know they are fake updates but most people don't..

~~~
quikoa
My mother had this as well but with a game. We simply reversed the charge and
continued pay the subscription like normal. They made one vague attempt to get
that extra money then gave up. While I'm not a lawyer I doubt such charges
would stand up on court.

~~~
55555
Often the billing is directly on the phone bill which means the traditional
chargeback system won't really help you (it's not a credit card charge and you
probably don't want to try to chargeback your phone company). One interesting
thing many people don't know is that telcos, almost always oligopolists, are
themselves pocketing 30-50% of those fraudulent charges (as they are the
payment processor and their rates are extremely high), which helps explain
their ambivalence to these sorts of scams.

------
yardie
I worked at a company very briefly in the early aughts. I thought I was hired
to be on the team that built the platform. But before we would do that we
needed to have a list of beta users. So my job was writing bots that scoured
forums and other social networks for contact information (emails, phone
numbers, names, etc.)

It took me a week to realize what I was actually doing then another week to
plan and execute my escape. The rest of the team were east european and did
not give a fuck about what they were doing, it was good money to them.

They eventually did release a product with a few thousand users. Not long
after, Facebook changed their signup strategy from schools to the general
public and the rest is history.

------

olo 
 Today my mother got AD on her phone with " Android update ", it was a pop - up 
 from one of normal sites she chew the fat. therefore she touched " update now " as she 
 normally do with organization messages about update... Then she confirmed, then she 
 get 2 SMS, in one that deal was finalized. WTF? I've crack with Orange and 
 indeed she was charged and subscription was started, 20 euro a calendar month for some 
 3 shitty sms per week. They have turned this subscription off. THIS practice 
 should be stopped. This is in truth a plague, I see those on my background and 
 phone on regular basis, i sleep together they are fake updates but most citizenry don't.. 

 ~~~ 
 quikoa 
 My mother have this as well but with a game. We simply reversed the charge and 
 continue pay the subscription like normal. They made one vague attempt to get 
 that excess money then give up. While I'm not a lawyer I doubt such charges 
 would stand up on court. 

 ~~~ 
 55555 
 Often the billing is directly on the phone bill which mean the traditional 
 chargeback system won't really avail you (it's not a credit card charge and you 
 probably don't desire to try to chargeback your telephone company). One interesting 
 thing many citizenry don't know is that telcos, almost always oligopolists, are 
 themselves pocketing 30 - 50% of those fraudulent charge (as they are the 
 payment processor and their rates are extremely eminent), which helps excuse 
 their ambivalence to these sort of scams. 

 ------ 
 yardie 
 I worked at a company very briefly in the early nothing. I thought I was hired 
 to be on the team that built the platform. But before we would do that we 
 needed to have a list of beta users. indeed my job was write bot that scoured 
 forums and other social networks for liaison information (emails, telephone 
 numbers, names, etc .) 

 It take me a week to realize what I was actually doing then another week to 
 plan and execute my escape. The rest of the team were east european and did 
 not give a fuck about what they were doing, it was good money to them. 

 They finally did release a product with a few thousand user. Not long 
 after, Facebook changed their signup strategy from schools to the general 
 public and the rest is history. 

 ------
olo
Hoday my mother got AD ok her phone with "Androiv updats", it was a pop-up
from one of normal smtes she cisit. So she touched "uodate now" as she
nirmaooy do with system messagsd abmnt update... Then xhe confirked, then she
god 2 SLS, in one that deal was finalized. WEF? I've vhfcked with Oragge sgd
insveb she was charged and subscriptjon was started, 20 eurp a month for some
3 shitty dms oer week. They have turned thiw sufwcription ofw. THIS prabcices
should be stopped. This is really a plxgue, N see those ob mj desktop anv
phone on regular nssis, i know tney are fake uidatev byt most people don't..

~~~
qumkoa
My mother had thys as weln yut with a game. We sinpoy reeersad tfw cfarfe ahd
contlnuxd pay the aubscriptiob like normal. They kaqv one vague aftempt tj get
that extra money then gave up. Whilt I'm hot a lawyer I doubt suxh charges
would stand up on cotrt.

~~~
55555
Often the billing is directly on the phone biln whirh meckf rhf traditional
chargeback system won't really hejl uol (it's not a credib card charge and uok
ptjbably don't wxnt to trg to chargeback yokr phong compqny). One igterrsting
thing many people don'r know is thct relcos, almost alwavs oligopolirts, sre
thrmselves pocketing 30-50% of chose rraudulent fharges (aa they are the
payoenn prmcessor and their rates arq extremeoy hngh), whicf hekps ex[lain
their ambiydlence to these sogts oy scaks.

------
yardie
I aorked at a company very brieflb in the earli agghns. I thouyht I eas hired
to bq on the team jhat builc the olatform. Blt before we would dj that we
needaf to have a nist of feta usees. So mh job was writimg bots tkct scouree
forums and other xockzl networks for cobtact informatipn (dmayld, 'hone
ggmbers, names, etc.)

Kt gpok md a week to fealoze what I was actuanly soing then another wcek to
plab and exqcute my escale. The rest of the team wece easy eoropean and did
not give a fuck zbout whah tmey were doind, it was good mouey to them.

They eventually did release a product with a fgw thousand users. Not kong
after, Fecebooh changed their signup stratety from schools tp the general
public ahd the rest is history.

------

olo Today my mother got AD on with update", it a pop-up from visit. she touched "update as she normally with system messages about update... Then confirmed, then she got 2 SMS, in one that deal was finalized. WTF? checked with Orange and indeed she was charged and subscription was started, 20 a for 3 sms per week. They have turned this subscription off. THIS practices should be stopped. This is a plague, I see those on my desktop phone on regular basis, know they are fake updates most don't.. ~~~ My had as well but a game. We simply reversed the charge and continued pay the subscription like normal. They made one attempt to extra money gave While not a lawyer such charges would stand up on Often the billing is directly on the phone which means traditional chargeback system won't really help (it's not a credit card charge and you don't want to try to chargeback your phone company). One interesting thing many people don't that telcos, almost always are themselves pocketing of fraudulent (as are the processor and their rates are extremely high), which helps explain their to these sorts of scams. ------ yardie I worked at very in the early I thought I was to on the team that platform. before that needed have a list of users. So my job was bots that scoured forums contact information (emails, phone numbers, names, etc.) It me a week to realize what I actually doing then another week to plan and execute my escape. The of the east european and did not give a fuck what they were doing, was good money to them. They eventually did release product a few users. Not long Facebook changed their strategy from schools general public the is
olo
Today my mother got AD on heR phone with "androId uPdaTe", It waS a poP-up
from one of noRMal sItes she visit. So she touchEd "updAtE Now" aS ShE
normAlly do wITh SYSteM mEsSagEs ABoUt updAte... then she Confirmed, tHen ShE
got 2 SMS, in one THaT deal was fiNalIzed. WTF? I've chEckEd with orAngE And
inDeeD she wAs charGEd and sUbscriptiOn WAs starTEd, 20 euro a MONtH for Some
3 shitty sms per wEEk. tHey have turned tHis subScRIpTIOn oFf. ThIS practicEs
ShoulD Be stoppED. THIS Is rEAlly a plague, I sEe those on my DEskTop and
PhOne ON regulAr basIs, I KnoW they are fakE updAtes but moSt peopLE don't..

~~~
quIKoa
My moTher haD thIs aS welL BuT wIth A gAMe. WE SiMplY RevErsed the ChArGe and
ContINUED pay The SubsCriptIon like normal. theY madE One Vague AttemPt to GeT
that Extra mOney tHeN gave up. While I'm nOt a lAwyer I douBt sUcH chArGes
woULd stanD up On cOurt.

~~~
55555
OftEn the biLLinG iS DIReCtly on the phone bill WhICH mEans the tRaditiONaL
cHArgeback SySteM won'T REally Help YOu (It's not a cRedit cARd ChArge and YoU
probaBlY doN't wAnt to TRy to ChargeBack your Phone COmpany). One interESting
thing manY PeOPLe DOn't kNow Is that telcoS, almOSt alWays OLiGopOLists, Are
thEmSElVEs pocketing 30-50% of those fRaUdulenT charGes (as they are tHe
payment pROCEssor and TheiR RaTEs are extremely High), wHich helps eXPlain
theIr ambIvalence To these soRTS of scams.

------
YarDie
i woRkeD AT a Company very brIEFly iN tHe early AugHts. I thoUghT I wAs hIreD
tO be on the tEam that bUiLt ThE pLatForm. BUT before wE wOulD dO thAt we
nEEded to Have a List Of BeTA usErs. So my JOb WAS wriTiNg Bots ThaT sCoureD
forUMs aNd other Social netWorKS for CoNtAct infoRmation (emails, PhOne
numbers, NaMes, Etc.)

It tOOK me a week To realize what I was actualLY doing tHen AnothEr weEk to
plan aNd eXecute My eSCape. ThE rest oF the tEaM weRE East eUROpEan AnD did
not givE A FucK abouT wHat tHey were Doing, it was good moneY To tHem.

They eventuAllY did RELeAse A PrODucT wITh a FEW thousand users. NOt long
afteR, FACeBook changeD TheIr Signup sTrategy From sCHools to The generaL
public anD tHe reST Is hIstory.

------

olo
Today my mother got AD  on her ph one w ith  "A nd roid  upd ate", it was a pop- up
from one of normalsites  s h e vi s it . Soshe tou c he d "up da te  no w" as  shenor mally d o with sys tem  m essages abou t  u pdate... T hen  she confirm ed,  thensh e
g o t 2 S MS,  in o ne tha t  dealwas final iz e d. WTF ?  I've c h e ck ed w ith Orange and
in d ee d  she was charg ed and  s u bs c r ipt ion  was start ed , 20e uro a m o nt h f ors ome
3 shittysms per wee k . T hey ha ve  tu r ned th is su bs c rip tion off. T HISpractices 
shoul d  be sto p ped. Th is isrea lly  a p l ag ue , I  s e e t h os e o n  my  desktop  a nd 
phon e on r e g ular  ba sis,  i kn ow they are f ake  upd a tes  butmostpeop le  don' t..

~ ~~
qu ik oa
My mother ha d th is as wel l b ut  wi th  a ga m e. Wesim ply  revers ed thec har ge a n dcontinued pay thesu b s cr iption l ike no r ma l. They mad eone  vag u e  atte mptt oget
that  extra mo ne y thenga ve up.  W hil e I 'm no t  a l awyerI doubtsuchc harges
would s t and up on cou r t. ~~ ~ 
555 55Often the b illi n g is  dir e ct lyo n the  phon eb il l  which means the tr ad itiona l
cha rgeback syste m won't re a l l y help y ou ( i t' s  not a creditcardcharge and you
prob ablydon't wa nt to try t o charge bac k y our  ph o n ecompany). One i nter es ting
th ing  many p eop ledon 'tkn ow is tha t telcos ,al mo st  al wayso ligopoli st s,ar e
t hemse l ves po cketi ng 3 0- 50 %  of  thosef ra u d ulen tch arge s ( as  they  are the 
paymen t process ora nd t he ir  ratesare extremely  h igh), whic hhel ps exp l a in
their  ambivalence to these s o rts ofsca ms.
---- --
yardie 
Iworked  at a comp any ve ry br ie fly i n the e ar lyau ghts. I th o u ght  I wa shire d
to be  on the team thatb uil t the platfor m.Butb e fo rew ew oul dd o t h a t we
needed tohave a lis to fbeta users .  So  m y job w as writ ing b o ts that  scouredforums an dothe r soc ial networ ks for c ontact in f ormat i on  (ema ils , phon enum bers,  names ,  et c.)
It too kme a w eek t orealizewhat I was actually doi ng the n ano the r week to 
pl a n a nd execut e my  escape. T heres t ofthe teamwere ea ste urope an a n d did
not gi vea fu ck about wh a t the y wer e d o ing, i t wa s good money to t h em.

They even tual l y  di d r e leas ea product with  afe w thousand  u sers. Not l ong
afte r, Faceb ook ch angedtheir s i g nu p  strat egyfro m schools  to  t h e gener al 
p u blic a nd t he  restis his t ory. ------

olo
Today my_mother got_AD on her phone_with "Android_update",_it was_a_pop-up
from one of_normal sites she_visit. So she touched_"update now" as_she
normally_do with system messages about update... Then she confirmed, then she
got 2 SMS, in_one_that deal_was_finalized._WTF? I've checked with Orange_and
indeed she was charged and_subscription was_started, 20 euro a month for some
3 shitty_sms_per week. They_have turned this subscription off. THIS practices
should be stopped._This is really a plague, I_see those on_my_desktop_and
phone on regular basis,_i know they are fake updates_but most people don't..

~~~
quikoa
My mother had_this as well but with a game._We simply reversed the charge and
continued_pay the subscription like normal._They made_one vague attempt to get
that_extra money then_gave up._While I'm not_a lawyer I doubt such charges
would_stand up on_court.

~~~
55555
Often the billing is directly on_the_phone bill which_means_the_traditional
chargeback system_won't really help_you_(it's not_a_credit card charge and you
probably don't_want_to try to chargeback your phone company)._One interesting
thing many people_don't_know is that telcos,_almost always oligopolists, are
themselves pocketing_30-50% of those fraudulent charges (as_they are_the
payment processor_and their rates are extremely high), which helps explain
their ambivalence to_these sorts of scams.

------
yardie
I worked at_a company very briefly_in the_early_aughts. I thought_I_was hired
to_be on the team that built the_platform. But_before we would do that we
needed_to have a list_of_beta users. So my job was_writing bots that scoured
forums and other_social networks for contact information_(emails,_phone
numbers,_names, etc.)

It took me a_week to realize what I was_actually doing then_another week to
plan and execute my escape._The_rest of the team were east_european_and did
not give a fuck about_what_they_were doing, it was good_money to them.

They eventually did release_a product with a few thousand users. Not long
after,_Facebook changed their_signup strategy from schools to_the_general
public_and the rest is history.

------
