Who Put This Spam on My Tab?

The next time you receive text message spam, watch out! It’s apparently possible for a third party to add services to your account without your consent. I received a text from “Horoscopegenie Alert” at short code 27140 (the “phone number” that shows on the message). It said I would be charged $9.99 a month and to reply STOP to cancel the subscription.

I ignored the message, thinking that any response from me would only elicit additional spam, but when I went to pay my bill at the end of the month there was an actual charge for this service. Thankfully my carrier was able to refund the charge and also put additional security in place on my account. Now, any “mobile purchases” require a PIN, which should prevent third parties from adding things to my account without my knowledge. Mobile purchases include things like this horoscope scam as well as things like “Text XXX to YYY now to buy this ringtone!” Other things like App Store purchases on an iPhone are something different, which means I’ll probably never actually need the PIN.

So read those spam texts carefully, and don’t hesitate to check with your carrier about applying a PIN to mobile purchases on your account.

About Adam Platt

Adam Platt is a technologist with more than a decade of experience across the full stack. His passion for technology and penchant for rendering complex technical ideas into simple terms have made him an in-demand speaker. His resume includes BriForum, the PowerShell Summit, teaching engagements and more.

He is one of the 10 types of people who understand binary and he can solve a Rubik’s Cube.

About Adam Platt

Adam Platt is a technologist with more than a decade of experience across the full stack. His passion for technology and penchant for rendering complex technical ideas into simple terms have made him an in-demand speaker. His resume includes BriForum, the PowerShell Summit, teaching engagements and more.

He is one of the 10 types of people who understand binary and he can solve a Rubik’s Cube.