Time for Fraud Controls System

Yesterday, we discusses on how mobile phone users can secure themselves from unknown calls/SMS. It is pertinent to mention that cellular companies should also come forward with foolproof system to cap such sort of illegal activities. There are increasing amount of reported incidents where people use mobile phones to generate black money in form of fraudulent lottery scams, SMS based balance transfers and other similar things. Today, I will discuss what types of mobile frauds we can come across in our daily lives.

• USSD (Short code based Business cards) and balance transfers
• SMS based frauds
• Sympathetic SMS messages / E-Begging
• Cloned Mobile numbers
• Fake Lottery Systems

USSD (Short code based Business cards) and balance transfers:
The USSD (short code based business cards) and balance transfers are very come these days, in which victim party gets a message of accepting business card from particular mobile number. Victim normally does not understand the implications and the purpose of the transfer and hence results in to balance transfer of certain amount. The main technique involved in this type of fraud is embedded code in the business card message. These frauds use SMS based balance transfer facilities offered from mobile operators.
SMS based Frauds:
SMS based frauds are somewhat similar to USSD frauds, in which victim receives SMS that if he/she diala number given in SMS (normally a balance transfer code) than he/she may get a prize, double balance or similar. The nutshell of this fraud is balance transfer.
Criminals use bulk SMS sending software to send their SMS to a huge amount of mobile phone subscribers, out of which their success ratio is higher in urban areas.
Sympathetic SMS messages or E-Begging:
These messages contain sympathetic text like “I am in hospital and my mom is under serious condition, please send me Rs. 10 balance”. “E-Begging” will be a good term for such activities. It is a matter of fact that people use it for getting their balance filled without spending any money.
Cloned Mobile Numbers:
Now, matter of fact is that if someone try to trace fraudulent(s) , the mobile number mostly are cloned with SIM cloning technologies; and this is not it , it could be even used for serious crimes as well.
Fake Lottery Systems:
Fake lottery systems are again common in Pakistan, like customers get call that they have won a Car, cash prize or both. As money attracts; most of the customers opt for offers like provide us Rs.1000/- balance card no and we will send you prize and etc. The latest news about these systems is that, now these frauds are common with overseas Pakistanis.
Role of PTA:
PTA has initiated lot of steps to cater these issues like publishing advertisements and informing masses about these frauds. But we see no major difference in slowdown in such activities.
Operators can invest in SPAM filtering solutions, similar to what email providers do with SPAM emails, in order to track bulk amount of SMS traffic originating from a specific number. 789 will of course do wonders in bringing down these illegal activities, but PTA should come up with solid policies for balance transfer methodologies and SPAM filtering process for cellular companies.

How to Stop Wrong Calls/Miss Calls/SMS

The issue of unknown callers that disturb cell phone users is not new, but the momentum has reached its highest limit in recent months. Lowering tariffs are allowing the culprits to call and tease people with in-expensive rates and more comfort. I am not going into details on how people call unknown numbers and tease them (especially when they find girls on receiving side), but I want to discuss on how you can get rid of these calls. Also at the same time, how important is to report such numbers.
So the process is very simple, but at the same time very sensitive. You must take care of following things in case you get wrong calls

• Never respond (call back) to any wrong call, what so ever. In case you feel like that the calling person could be your friend or family member, even then don’t take the risk of calling/messaging back the same number
• Ignore once or twice, and then report your operator about this number, that you are getting un-wanted calls from this number. Reporting in this situation is very important and can save you from serious situations (I will discuss them below)

Once you follow these rules, I am sure your life will get easier. Reason for not calling them back is to ignore the person, and let him/her feel like a failure. By the way, this can turn out other way as well, by adding curiosity in the mind of caller, and he/she may start repeatedly calling you, but normally this doesn’t happen.
Then comes the process of reporting the number, for this you just need to dial your helpline, and tell CSR to note your complaint against number from where you are receiving calls. Your cellular company will track the calling record and will issue a warning. In case the person doesn’t stop calling you, complain again and tell them that this is your second complain. This time number will be permanently blocked.
Don’t hesitate to complain your helpline, if you are getting calls from 10 different numbers, report them all – and let your cellular company take care of them.
Why reporting a Number is so important?
Both of up mentioned points come into serious play, when the caller is involved in a terrorist or criminal activity. You must not call back and you must complain the number in order to justify that you had no connection with any such criminal. Let me give you an example for further elaboration,
For example, a criminal is going getting ready for a criminal activity, and he/she calls/miss calls you. And soon after he kills some-one or does carry out any other illegal activity. In such a situation, Police or any other law enforcement agency will look into call records of the culprits, and your number there can take you into serious account of investigation.
So avoid connected calls as much as you can. It is even wiser to accept calls only from numbers that you know. And report all those numbers that you find suspicious to avoid any situation latter.