The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has warned users to be wary of unsolicited but chargeable SMS or content, in an announcement on its website.
The body warned the public to stay alert as to these attempts and issued specific warnings, besides providing users a method to terminate the unsolicited services offered.
MCMC said that it's also collaborating with industry players to stop the transmission by unscrupulous content providers.
Among the spams highlighted by the MCMC were:
1. Using malware or virus to send automatic content subscription to the phone, for example:Content Update. Please update V1234567 at http://productupdatexxx.com
2. Pushing links such as phone updates, free adult video and free phone antivirus, for example:[Free] Antivirus! http://bit.ly/abc [Free] Rahsia +18 http://bit.ly/cdf
3. Conduct marketing activities through SMS with misleading content, for example: (a) RM0.00 kepada nombor 0193004XXX: diminta terima servis SMS mobile content baru segera. Taip ON KV ke 326XX untuk daftar service terbaru tanpa caj. Output
(b) RM0.00 Servis SMS Content update kepada 0168152XXX. Sila SMS ON N2 ke 377XX untuk mulakan SMS ini segera! Pendaftaran wajib.
(c) RM0.00 Tetapan mobile servis 3GP anda telah tamat. Taip ON DK hantar ke 399XX untuk aktifkan semula. Tiada caj pendaftaran. Output 0379666XXX
4. Conduct marketing through the Internet, for example through pop-up screens with misleading service mechanics.
According to MCMC, users who receive unsolicited services through SMS messages can terminate it by sending the following keywords to the short code:
STOP <service keyword >
STOP ALL
BATAL <service keyword >
BATAL SEMUA
MCMC said it's the users should think twice before clicking on in-application advertisements or notification messages. It warned users not to send or click on the registration keywords such as 'REG', 'REGISTER', 'ON' or 'DAFTAR' if they did not want to subscribe to the content.
It further urged the public to treat their mobile phones, especially smartphones, in the same manner as they do PCs and desktops in terms of security.
It recommended users to stick to reputable stores for downloads and to be wary of offers that proved to be too good to be true. "Check for the fine print regarding subscription and charges," said MCMC.
Users should regularly check phone bills or credit balances and immediately lodge a complaint with MCMC if they were charged for the unsolicited messages.