From unsolicited text messages about things you won’t ever need to shady promos you don’t even care about, most Nigerian networks have their ways of making money off subscribers apart from through calls, SMS and data charges. Some even go as far as sending messages 2:00AM in the morning while you’re trying to enjoy your sleep and during the day, you receive calls about stupid promotional caller tune offers that can best be described as spam.
The BS is annoying but it’s only going to look strange to you if you just came into the country. When people stopped picking strange calls from short codes, a certain network started using real 11 digit phone numbers to make those promotional calls, tricking you into picking up. Someone needs to call these people to order as it’s actually getting out of hand.
Auto-subscription: The new MTN scam
Last week, I received a call from a certain short code (033592) and I picked the call absent-mindedly. I normally reject these calls but I didn’t know what came over me that day. I ended the call when I realized it was promotional call; I didn’t even wait to listen to what they had to say. Less than 10 seconds later, I received a message that I had been subscribed to CATHOLIC DAILY LITURGICAL ACTIVITIES.
There was no confirmation during the call. Normally, you should be asked to press a number or something to confirm your subscription to a service through a phone call but there was nothing. My only mistake was picking up the call. I ended it within a few seconds and got subscribed to a service I didn’t need with ₦50 gone from my balance.
I raised no alarm, I didn’t even call customer care because I thought if I hadn’t picked the call, I wouldn’t have been charged for a service I never asked for.
Unwanted calls on MTN network is a pretty deep scam
This morning again, I received another call from 055515 and I chose not to pick up. I learned my lesson the other day and left the phone to ring while I was busy with something else on the computer.
To my greatest surprise, I received a text message few seconds after the phone stopped ringing that I had been subscribed to another service with ₦30 deducted from my account!
I was outraged, not because of the money being deducted, but because these people think they can take Nigerians for granted. To say the least, it’s irresponsible and this can only be described as a corporate scam. You might ask if I don’t have a blacklist on my phone Well, I do and I’ve added so much numbers I’ve lost count. The list keeps growing.
Even if MTN has a fine worth billions of naira to pay, are customers supposed to bear the brunt of their gross irresponsibility? Somehow, someway, these guys needs to be stopped and I only hope NCC does something about this but then, will they?
