Comments on I Just Got Spammed via Text Messaging

You should send me $5 and then forget you did it, since you'll lose the money anyway.

Whaddya do? Try to get some free ring tones?

I've been getting spam text messages and phone solicitations left on my cell phone voice mail. I wonder if it depends on who the carrier is (mine is Virgin Mobile).

I'm a douchebag.

You should buy buy buy...no wait sell sell sell sell!! Oh God, buy buy buy!!!

Go here: https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

and sign up. Your name is added to a registry of #'s that cannot be given out. It works, I did it for my whole company (15 + cell phones) and we've never gotten any type of sales calls. It works for home phones and cell phones.

It's already illegal to make telemarketing calls to any cell phone. You don't need the Do Not Call list for them.

But this stock pump-n-dumper doesn't care that he's breaking the law.

I got one too, but I deleted it. I only get 200 a month with my plan, combined sent and received so I hope this isn't a frequent thing. ugh

Make sure to complain to your carrier, either by calling or emailing. Cingular has already filed suit against one company using these tactics. The AG of Illinois filed a lawsuit against the same company for this "wireless spam".

hmmm, I smell a new $5 a month feature to add on to our cellphone plan! Anti-SpamText! They'll use the same technology as AOL!

Holy crap. Somebody similar defiled my beloved iPhone with some lame, incomprehensible text message.
(ROFL)(w.indows V.ista and all Adobe software) 90%o.f.f visit:(www. 75vista.com)

I also got Skype spam, alerting me to the possibility of Skype Sex (phone sex 2.0?)

What the shit?

@6, @8 - good idea on signing up.

But you need to forward such spam emails to the appropriate regulator agency.

That is the SEC - and the nearest office is in San Francisco - can't recall their email address offhand.

But you can also complain to our State Attorney General online - and should - and file under UCE that your cell provider is charging you money for receiving such things.

Every little bit, multiplied by millions of people, becomes an unstoppable force.

I've had a cell phone since, I dunno, 1994, and I got one of these the other day -- perhaps the 2nd spam SMS in that amount of time, the last one years ago.

The spammers are not only engaged in activity that violates federal law on the phone side and federal law on the securities side, but they also have to pay for SMS. Unlike email, every sender and receiver is part of a big financially connected network, that involves fee settlement among carriers, etc.

Carriers now charge 15 cents for no-plan SMS (often a bit less if you have a plan), but they pocket 5 to 10 cents of that, if not more. The SMS spammers would have had to pay some kind of market rate, or, if they were using an "unlimited SMS" account (the iPhone's $40 per month for unlimited SMS with AT&T), they would be throttled after sending a few hundred messages of this kind, at most.

I get about two a month. They're always for some damn club, and even though I've complained to T-Mobile, I still get them.

Ugh. That's extremely common in China, but I've never had it happen to me here.

The spammers are not only engaged in activity that violates federal law on the phone side and federal law on the securities side, but they also have to pay for SMS.

No, they don't. You can send SMS messages for free via various carrier sites (e.g. https://wmg.tmomail.net/customer_site/jsp/messaging_lo.jsp) and it is trivial to write an application that leverages said forms to broadcast spam.

Spammers don't care about Terms of Service any more than they care about laws.

@16 - which is why they need to be reported so that the SEC can find who was dumping the stock and arrest them.

Jail terms do wonders for people like that.

Um, it's all email to SMS. The carriers have SMS gateways that you can email to. Pretty much every phone and pager sold in the last 5 years has an email address, and the emails arrive as SMS texts.

Go see www.seqent.com/downloader/filedownload.php?area=3&file=SMTPPagingemails.pdf
for a list of email addresses for each carrier...

It's not just email if you report it as a Telecom problem through the Attorney General's office.

Then it becomes a big deal, since it's part of the public record.

Some fight fair. I like to win, instead.

@19

Will -

Most wireless in WA State is not regulated by the State UTC - which is who you would be filing a complaint with. Federal preemption puts the issue back with the FCC. You can file, but be aware that this is not an issue that has a clear enforcement path at the State level. It will create a record, however (that is true).

By all means, please alert the carrier. Many SMS spammers are not that smart and can be easily filtered at the carrier's gateway.

Alternately, you can file a complaint with the FCC. They are fairly active with spammers once notified. I know that the local enforcement folks at the FCC are very active in forwarding issues along for action.

I just got the same thing too...

FDKE?

Exactly the same. WTF?

Fredricks Entertainment?

Ya...from .65 cents to $5.00?

Even if I was an investor...I wouldn't go spending money off of a spam text!

Copy with all available information to enforcement@sec.gov

Fredericks Entertainment is a professional music production, distribution and promotion company focusing on the POP and HIP/HIP genres. (pr.com)

If you'd like to ask them why they're spamming you, you can contact them:

3550 Biscayne Blvd, Miami FL

(305) 356-6211

Alexander Aksert, CEO & President

One thing you eventually learn is that no one, but no one, in a position of power to do anything about it, gives two shits and a train whistle about spam. FTC, SEC -- they don't care. They'll prosecute a guy here and there, fine him a few grand, that's it. It's just a cost of doing business. 99% of all emails are spam now.

I got the same exact message!

Says:

OTCBB: FDKE DICT(NAME)

It was sent via AOL Instant Message

I just got that same message exact message except with "see what everyone esle knows" instead of "this is an easy tripler."

and yes, they spelled else wrong, ha.

It scared me pretty badly because I was having a conversation with someone about how I went over my phone bill $2 so far this month.

i got the same darn text.. is der a way to avoid gettin charged for it

yeah i got it too if you want to talk to someone try calling 3059323440 (it's the number from the website "hard white entertainment") the guy i spoke to claims to have no idea what the deal is but does agree that it is their stock number

I just got basically the same message:

cUjqNF21j001669::(uaubg AOL IM)
big movers Stock
Symbol: FDKE
DICT(NAME);

Once its found it'll be late

It'll be $5 before end of the week

Will I be charged for this???

i got it too! woke me up at 1:30 AM last night... wtf???

Got it... So did my wife and her mom...

Just curious who else got it -- what carrier do you have?

We're all Verizon...
Did they get hacked?
Or is it crossing over to other carriers?

Verizon's response was:
A) Change your number
B) Sign up for unlimited texting

Both real #*%@&! helpful.

Otherwise -- there's nothing they're willing to do...

I got a SMS spam message on my iPhone from 265-060.
It reads as follows:
btvYTrhUYN36687: (using AOL IM) Get piece of this stock OTCBB: FDKE DICT(NAME); Find out what all the fuss is it'll be $5 before end of the week

I was soo pissed! I found out about the stupid Fredericks Entertainment, and I also took the spammers aim handle and plugged it into a disposable aim account now whenever he logs on I rape his computer with various profanity and the word spam over and over again.

What a worthless waste of time, even if the stock was legit, eating up text messages from my quota or charging me 15¢ if I don't have text plan will only infuriate me rather than convince me to purchase this crappy circling the toilet bowl stock.

*Sorry- Still mad : (

I just sent the following email to the company responsible, as well as a copy to the SEC.

Are you aware that someone is spamming cell phones on behalf of your company and peddling your stock by way of unwelcome text message?

I received this on my cell phone:
btvYTrhUYN36687: (using AOL IM) Get piece of this stock OTCBB: FDKE DICT(NAME); Find out what all the fuss is it'll be $5 before end of the week

also refer to this site for many others that were victims of this charade:

http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/i_just_got_spammed_via_text_messaging

I am pissed!! even if there was any possibility that I might invest in your company, spamming my cell phone and eating up text messages from my alloted amount or charging me 15¢ if I have no text plan only infuriates me.. now I have only hostility and negative things to say about your company.

I am forwarding a copy of this email the security and exchange commission.

I am not sure I am able to convey my anger right now, I sincerely hope you locate and rectify the problem.

I hope anyone else angry about this intrusion will voice their anger to the following email: info@hardwhiteentertainment.com

Let these jerks know this is not cool!!
Thanks

same spam text message here..one yesterday one today, slight difference being

"This is an easy tripler

It'll be $5 before end of the week"

hopefully we can put an end to this.....

I was spammed also; I'm with T-Mobile and they suggested sending a message back to sender saying stop. In my case the sender appears to be an AOL IM account name NzsoxJOEpL74239. The reply message should look thusly:
NzsoxJOEpL74239:stop

I received one of these as well, at 2:30 in the morning. I got to
work to find that a colleague also got one. Both came from an AOL IM account, also 265-060.
Evening calls from telemarketers are bad enough, now
we have to put up with midnight text messages? No thank you.
These messages need to be reported to the SEC and FTC, as well as the FCC
(violates the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 as unsolicited commercial messages to a wireless device).

Complaints can be filed with the SEC at: http://www.sec.gov/complaint/selectconduct.shtml
The report could probably be filed under a number of topics, including
Manipulation of security price and volume, Cold calling, and False or
misleading statements about a company.

A report may be filed with the FTC at: https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup
Or, you can simply forward the message directly to: SPAM@UCE.GOV

Continued below...

...continued

A report may be filed with the FCC at: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints_tcpa.html

Also, I would recommend that if anyone else has received their
messages through an AOL account, that they should contact AOL at
AOLActionTeam@aol.com and inform them of the situation and request
that they take action to put a stop to this spam, or they may be held accountable for the illegal use of their system.

To everyone who has received one of these messages, please take the
time to fill out at least one of these reports. If enough of us complain, action will be taken. There is no need for us to put up with this type of fraud and intrusion on our lives.

I just found this:

http://www.forbes.com/2006/09/28/spam-text-wireless-tech-intel-cx_df_ll_0929spam.html

Apparently, this has hapened in the past with other stocks, and when it has, the involved sell phone companies filed lawsuits. Hopefully they will do so again so we don't have to put up with this garbage.

#31 - I got the same response from Verizon Wireless. My husband and have been getting these texts over the past week. He pays per text because he rarely receives texting so it is not worth it to pay for a plan that has unlimited or an allowance. Now because some spam I have to change my plan. Once again, innocent law abiding people having to alter their ways for those who choose not to. Argh!

I just got a text from Fredricks entertainment as well.. first time for me on my cell.. says it was sent via AOL instant messenger.. I have t-mobile.. the only thing I can think of is that my number got put in some database somewhere when I used to use AIM on my phone, and these guys got it. That would explain how it's not bound to a single carrier, and how they can afford to send them.

If you don't really use texts (like me, I send and recieve about 3 texts a month).. you can call your carrier and have them remove that feature from your plan, even if it's not technically on your plan, they can still turn off the feature. Either all texts or just incoming, that way you can still send if you need to but you won't be able to recieve.

I just got the same text msg. too! It hit my msg alert before 5 am this morning!!!

Idxqs801ticph: (using AOL IM)
This one will skyrocket
Symbol: FDKE
FREDRICKS ENTERTAINMENT

Get in today before news gets

It'll be $5 within a week

DATE OF MESSAGE 8-03-07 @ 12:08PM

CURRENT MOOD -- PISSED OFF !!!

NOTE TO SPAMMERS GET A LIFE!!!

I DONT EVEN HAVE OR USE AIM OR IM ?

I got something similar, except it was this

azbrr478qfszz: (using AOL IM)

Leader for this week
OTCBB: FDKE
FREDRICKS ENTERTAINMENT

Get it before it makes a move

It'll be $5 within a week

It was from the number 265060, I have no idea what it is.

So, what is this?

I got almost the same text. It was also using AOL IM but it was by fqqenxhu170724. It said:

"We told you ystrday to watch Symbol: FDKE FREDRICKS ENTERTAINMENT Get in now, else regret later It'll be $5 within a week"

It was also from 265060 & came @ around 4 in the morning.
Does anyone have any clue about this?

i got almost the same message around 2 in the a.m. From: 265060 opsbufx322846: (using AOL IM) big movers Stock Symbol : FDKE FREDRICKS ENTERTAINMENT Once its found it'll be late It'll be $5 within a week (You can reply) 1:48am 8/3/07 what is this?

heres the one i got From: 265060 opsbufx322846: (using AOL IM) big movers Stock Symbol : FDKE FREDRICKS ENTERTAINMENT Once its found it'll be late It'll be $5 within a week (You can reply) 1:48am 8/3/07 what is this?

heres the one i got From: 265060 opsbufx322846: (using AOL IM) big movers Stock Symbol : FDKE FREDRICKS ENTERTAINMENT Once its found it'll be late It'll be $5 within a week (You can reply) 1:48am 8/3/07 what is this?

I received the same text at 5:12 am on August 3rd. It's the exact same as the one posted by Shanisha. So is reporting it to my phone company going to do any good?

unkgrhe581408:(using AOL
IM)
It has already started
moving
Sym:FDKE
FREDERICKS ENTERTAINMENT
Once its found it'll be late

It'll be $5 within a week
From:265060
8:33am 8/3/07

I got this same spam. I reported it to my carrier (sprint) as well as the FCC using the link Blackbird71 provided above (thanks Blackbird, very helpful):
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints_tcpa.html

EVERYONE please note: in all likelihood, Fredricks Entertainment is NOT involved in this spam. This looks like a classic "pump & dump" stock scam. Con artists buy some cheap stock, figure out a way to artificially inflate the price (ie send a lot of text messages that look like inside stock tips, so lots of people start buying and driving up the price) then they sell their shares at inflated prices before it all comes crashing down. The company in question (Fredricks in this case) may or may not be involved in the scam, but frequently isn't. So you might want to hold off on flaming Fredricks til it's proven they're guilty.

Hola mardena!
falikotrepat

Interesting article!
Where can I find more on this theme?