Never reply to these text messages! How to spot SMS cost traps
Be wary of text messages with promises of winnings or a call to action! Because it is precisely these messages that regularly lead to unexpected charges on your cell phone bill. If you respond carelessly or contact a specified number, you can quickly fall into a costly trap. Below we explain which types of text messages are particularly risky and how you can protect yourself from them.
These text messages are aimed at your money
Not all text messages are intended for informational purposes. In particular, messages containing purported prizes, vouchers or urgent instructions often have a clear goal: to trigger a quick response. A short response or callback is often enough to trigger charges.
Wording that creates time pressure or suggests urgency is typical. Examples include messages such as “Last chance to confirm”, “Your price expires today”, “Please respond immediately” or “Act now to avoid costs”.
Such statements are intended to encourage recipients to respond quickly without verifying the content or possible costs. It is precisely this pattern that makes these text messages particularly dangerous.
Price promises are the most common lure
Travel vouchers, special prices or exclusive benefits are some of the most popular lures. The text messages appear serious, mention well-known brands or suggest an advantage already won. To receive the purported prize, recipients are asked to contact a specific number or respond via SMS.
These are often special numbers or paid premium services. Numbers with dialing codes 0900, 0137 or 0180 in particular are often associated with high per-minute charges. Charges are incurred immediately and only appear later on the mobile phone bill. Many people don’t realize they’ve been scammed until they receive their bill.
Is SMS advertising allowed?
Unsolicited advertising text messages are generally not permitted under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
Email includes not only SMS, but also MMS, emails and RCS messages. Advertising messages via messaging 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.
In the absence of consent, data subjects may request that the sender refrain from sending further messages. In many cases, consumer protection centers and courts see this as a blatant violation of competition law.
The provisions of the Telecommunications Act also apply. If such a text message mentions telephone numbers or asks recipients to call back, the charges incurred must be clearly stated.
What to do if you are affected
If you have received a suspicious SMS, under no circumstances should you respond or 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 the SMS cost trap
- Ignore text messages containing promises of victory or urgent requests.
- Never click on links in these messages or download any files from them.
- Before responding, check that costs are clearly and unambiguously stated.
- Set up a premium text message block with your mobile carrier.
- Use spam filters or unknown number blocking features on your smartphone.
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