Hoax TxT

Vodafone wishes to advise all its customers that currently there is a hoax messages being sent to a number of Vodafone mobile numbers. The message read as “Congratulations your mobile have won US$5.8M for FIFA 2014 Int'l Award. To claim contact Mrs.J.Mcafee via:judym12014@yahoo.com.hk sent from GMX and  " Your Mobile number has won you US$1,000,000.00 from Canadian Mobile Lottery Draw. Email Agent in London and claim, Mr. Owen Lux, Email: owenlux44@gmail.com "

 

We're trying to locate the origin of the txt and as per past sms the origin of these hoax are from abroad as soon as we locate the origin we will block the particular mobile number  from sending any more text message to Vodafone Fiji network. However, the sender could still use other mobile numbers to send the text message.

 

We would like to advise customers that message is a hoax with an intention to defraud the subscriber.  

 

“Vodafone is a provider of a mobile communications network.  What gets communicated using our platform is not subject to any screening by Vodafone because of the statutory requirement to provide complete confidentiality and privacy on all subscriber communications.  Any interference would be a breach and invasion of consumer privacy.”

 

One may ask how fraud operator from abroad gets a customer’s mobile number in Fiji.

 

•    It is common knowledge that Vodafone mobile numbers in Fiji start with number “9” and have seven digits in total.  Therefore, if someone picked a seven digit  mobile number at random starting with number "8" or “9”, the chances are they will be able to pick a correct mobile number to send the text message.  We suspect that this is what is happening in this case.

 

•    Secondly, there are many bogus website on the net that require registration details including contact details.  If in any instance a customer has registered his/her mobile number as part of the email registration then this could be another potential source of information for the scam operators.

 

Customer privacy is of paramount importance to maintain integrity of Vodafone network. We do not and neither do we wish to intrude or pry into any content which is communicated between senders and receivers.

 

1.    We act quickly to block numbers that send hoax message from overseas networks as soon as these are brought to our attention. However, there are always individuals who will try and make a “quick buck” through bogus means and scams.  There is no definite control or mechanism in place to prevent such spam messages and scams.  However, if an offer looks to good to be true and asks for advance payment before getting the reward, it must most likely is an organized fraud or scam.

 

2.    Secondly, as a user of a Vodafone mobile, we advise our customers that they must always ask themselves a question when they receive such a hoax text message.  If you have not participated in any such promotion, then you should not expect to win something?  It most likely is a hoax.

 

In such instances, individuals must refer all information to appropriate authorities for clarification or seek clarification from Vodafone by calling our customer care.

 

Vodafone advertises all it promotions and winners through the local media in a fair and transparent manner.