Beware of text messages with promises to win or a call to action! Because it is precisely messages like these that repeatedly lead to unexpected costs on your mobile phone bill. If you reply carelessly or contact a specified number, you can quickly fall into an expensive trap. We explain below which types of text messages are particularly risky and how you can protect yourself against them.
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These text messages are aimed at your money
Not every text message is for information purposes. In particular, messages with alleged prizes, vouchers, or urgent instructions often have a clear aim: to trigger a quick response. A short reply or a callback is often enough to trigger costs.
Formulations that create time pressure or suggest urgency are typical. Examples include messages such as “Last chance to confirm,” “Your prize expires today,” “Please reply immediately,” or “Act now to avoid costs.”
Such statements are intended to tempt recipients to respond quickly without checking the content or possible costs. It is precisely this pattern that makes such text messages particularly dangerous.
Promises of prizes are the most common lure
Travel vouchers, special prizes, or exclusive benefits are among the most popular lures. The text messages appear serious, mention well-known brands or suggest a benefit that has already been won. To receive the alleged prize, recipients are asked to contact a specific number or reply by text message.
These are often special numbers or premium services for which a charge is made. Numbers with the dialing codes 0900, 0137, or 0180 in particular are often associated with high per-minute charges. The costs are incurred immediately and only appear later on the mobile phone bill. Many people only realize that they have been ripped off when they receive their bill.
Is SMS advertising even allowed?
Unsolicited advertising text messages are generally not permitted, under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
Electronic mail includes not only SMS, but also MMS, emails, and RCS messages. Advertising messages via messenger services such as Whatsapp are also covered by this regulation. If advertising is sent without consent, this constitutes unreasonable harassment of consumers and is illegal.
If there is no consent, those affected can demand that the sender refrain from sending further messages. In many cases, consumer centers and courts see this as a clear breach of competition law.
The provisions of the Telecommunications Act also apply. If such a text message mentions telephone numbers or requests recipients to call back, the costs incurred must be clearly stated.
What you should do if you are affected
If you have received a suspicious text message, you should not reply under any circumstances and should not contact any of the numbers provided. Keep the message and document the sender and content. You should report violations to your mobile carrier.
These measures protect against SMS cost traps
- Ignore text messages with promises to win or urgent requests.
- Never click on links contained in such messages and do not download any files from them.
- Before responding, check that the costs are clearly and unambiguously stated.
- Set up a block for premium text messages with your mobile phone provider.
- Use spam filters or the blocking functions for unknown numbers on your smartphone.
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