Be Aware... Kids, Mobile Phones and Text Shortcodes

[FatherJack]

Be aware and warn your kids not to text or respond to shortcode texts. They may look like 83500, 60700 and are 5 digits in length and start with 8 or 6...they may have other starting numbers.

Often pop up competitions will appear online "win an iPad/iPhone" (I'm told Apple products are the carrot! then you register to take part in the quiz providing your mobile number. By signing up you may be signing away ?5 per text received or worse a long term subscription unless you text STOP to a different shortcode text number, which you are also charged for. This is not a new scam, but with paperless billing on contract phones it can take a month to notice. Obviously with a PAYG, it will just eliminate the credit. Some of these text scam companies are under investigation by phonepayplus.org.uk and can help obtain refunds but many will insist that you must be 18 to register and their websites quote this.

A possible preventative measure is to request that your mobile phone provider bar over 18 content/access to your child's phone.