Customers should be aware of fraudulent SMS text messaging

ISLAMABAD: November 16, 2007 - As the Telecom Industry is growing at a rapid pace, innovations and new offers are presented in the market to attract and retain customers. However, sometimes this aggressive marketing is manipulated and exploited by various means. Mobilink, the country's largest cellular service provider and part of the Orascom Telecom Group has taken an initiative to raise the awareness of fraudulent SMS messages that are resulting in a loss of credit balance to unaware customers.

Recent launches of credit sharing facilities by cellular companies have resulted in spread of spam messages and calls inviting them to type in a specific message such as *100*923001234567*40# informing them of doubling their balance or winning cash prizes by sending these messages. Customers have lost their balance by responding to such messages. There is no such promotion taking place right now, and if such a promotion does take place Mobilink will never ask the lucky draw participants to send a code in order to win. Mobilink uses this format for balance transfer only. Customers should be aware that dialing these numbers will not win them any lucky draw, but is only used for balance transfer.

Omar Manzur, Manager Public Relations, Mobilink said, "Balance sharing services are developed for the ease and convenience of our customers offering a flexible option whereby customers can share their balance with friends and family anytime, anywhere. "

"Lucky draw campaigns and other promotions by cell companies are widely covered/ announced through media campaigns and not through SMS only. The PTA website is also advising cellular customers to ignore messages received from unknown sources (http://www.pta.gov.pk/Ref.htm ) as this can result in loss of balance to unaware customers." He added.