The greeting congratulating
you on winning a major prize worth thousands of euro is something that mobile
phone users have become all too familiar with. According to Cllr Kenneth
O’Flynn Meteor customers have in the past number of weeks become increasingly plagued
by these bogus messages claiming they have won a substantial cash prize.
The City Councillor
explained that ‘A number of my constituents who use the Meteor phone service have
in recent weeks contacted me about this problem. They are telling me that they
have been receiving text messages claiming that they have won up to €500,000 in
prizes relating to a scheme in the Netherlands. To receive the phoney prize all
they have to do is divulge there bank details.’
Cllr O’Flynn contacted Meteor
about the problem but says ‘The response I got was that they were aware of such
issues and the best thing to do is to delete the message straight away.’
The Fianna Fail Councillor
is unhappy with this and suggests that a lot more should be done to try and protect
customers personal data. ‘We are being told by the phone companies that there
is very little they can do. The amount of money that customers spend yearly on
topping up either there pay as you go or bill phone contracts is massive and
they deserve to have their information looked after in return. I believe that
phone companies like Meteor and others should be taking greater steps to
protect its one million customers from being targeted like this.’
Cllr O’Flynn stressed
the impact these intrusions could have ‘It is very disturbing to know that
someone, somewhere, has your details and is able to reach you in this way. It
is extremely worrying for the person who uses there mobile phone to access
their online banking or download items over the inherent. Likewise the elderly
person who would not use their phone as frequently may unknowingly keep these
messages stored in there inbox for a long time and there data could therefore be
at further risk of being tampered with illegally.’
Cllr O’ Flynn is asking
the users to report any messages they receive ‘Under the Electronic Privacy
regulations this is a clear breach of our Data protection laws. The Data
Protection Commissioners office has informed me of similar cases that they have
investigated regarding unsolicited messages. I would urge customers who are being
annoyed by these scams to report this to the Data Protection Commissioner
immediately and for them to give the matter serious attention.’
The North side
Councillor insisted that this is just another type of fraudulent behaviour ‘Whether
it is someone ringing your landline, sending messages on your mobile or calling
to your door posing as someone they are not, it is all fraud and should be taken equally as
serious.’
