Dodgy/ virus phone text message?

[Chas Uno]

I got this text message on my mobile the other day and can only assume it is some dodgy scam thing.

It came from a number displayed as "43255" saying "New Message". In the message was a link to a web address:

http://209.160.78.80/wapvert/collect.asp?t=3019379

Obviously I did not click on the link on my phone, but did try the address on my computer and got an HTTP 404 "The Webpage cannot be found" message. I also did a Google search for the web address and that came back as nothing too.

What was this thing I received? I assume it was one of those scams where you open the web address that then charges your account or downloads a virus onto the phone. Any ideas as to where these scammers got my number from?

 

[5abr3]

I got this text message on my mobile the other day and can only assume it is some dodgy scam thing.

It came from a number displayed as "43255" saying "New Message". In the message was a link to a web address:

http://209.160.78.80/wapvert/collect.asp?t=3019379

Obviously I did not click on the link on my phone, but did try the address on my computer and got an HTTP 404 "The Webpage cannot be found" message. I also did a Google search for the web address and that came back as nothing too.

What was this thing I received? I assume it was one of those scams where you open the web address that then charges your account or downloads a virus onto the phone. Any ideas as to where these scammers got my number from?

random number generator, database of info you gave your mobile number to etc?

 

[Eklipze3k]

www.phonepayplus.org.uk is usually a good place to find out what these short codes relate to but they don't have any details for this particular one. I had a quick look at Ofcom's numbering plan and couldn't see what company it was allocated to either, but I'm not sure if Ofcom regulate these type of numbers.

 

[Chas Uno]

random number generator, database of info you gave your mobile number to etc?

Private (i.e. non business number), only give it out to a select few people. Only other places are official documents requiring mobile numbers (University, Doctors, Insurers etc.) Possibly randomly generated I guess.

www.phonepayplus.org.uk is usually a good place to find out what these short codes relate to but they don't have any details for this particular one. I had a quick look at Ofcom's numbering plan and couldn't see what company it was allocated to either, but I'm not sure if Ofcom regulate these type of numbers.

Cheers for that. Obviously I took it as a scam and didn't open it. Just wondered what it was!

 

[5abr3]

Private (i.e. non business number), only give it out to a select few people. Only other places are official documents requiring mobile numbers (University, Doctors, Insurers etc.) Possibly randomly generated I guess.

Doesn't mean someone hasn't lifted it out of a database they have access to or have 'acquired'. Most are random generated or trailed off sites that request your number so yes it does look like it was randomly generated.

 

[Eklipze3k]

Just one additional - the IP address 209.160.78.80 is provided by www.hopone.net - if you like digging into things maybe check with them ?

Edit: Can you tell I'm bored at work? Lol

 

[Chas Uno]

Just one additional - the IP address 209.160.78.80 is provided by www.hopone.net - if you like digging into things maybe check with them ?

Edit: Can you tell I'm bored at work? Lol

Cheers again!

I will forward the details to hopone.net for what it's worth.

I also did a quick search on the 'net and found the ISP address mentioned a lot. Bloody scammers

 

[jug]

chillax its just some wap advertising

 

[ChrisUK]

:yeahthat: just delete it and thing nothing more of it. These scumbags will exploit every way to get your attention!.