Tm-Xxxxx Sms Menace!

[Harshal 11]

I have been noticing an ever increasing rise in SMSes received from an address TM-??????, including several banks.

There was a constant bombardment of SMSes during the MH state elections. I am a CA, and sadly educated co-professionals also do not respect privacy of a cell phone. During the CA elections, again there was a barrage of SMSes pouring in daily.

Yesterday however, it crossed all limits. I got these 2 SMSes in a short span of time:

1. TM-IMIA

CONGRATULATION YOU HAVE WON 750,000 GBP IN TH2 2010 SHELL INT"L MOBILE DRAW, TO CLAIM YOUR WINNING PRIZE, CONTACT DR PEDRO VIA email spdc113@live.com

2. TM-ICC

CONGRAT.YOUR MOBILE HAS WON 600,000:00GBP IN THE SHELL PROMO DRAW TO CLAM,CONTACT DR. BROWN KAY,EMAIL.spdce009@live.com tel; 447014236077

Wow!, it was enough that we got emails of this nature, and thankfully there are powerful junk blockers for that, but now even SMSes.

Is there a way to stop all this crap from coming through?

The worst part is that how do you catch hold of the person sending these SMSes.

[ayaz_cool 30]

even i got bored with this stuff. . i too got many sms during maharashtra elections... TM something.. i want to know hw they send these types of sms with no number only shows TM.. im sure it will be from internet

[konquerror 21]

Register for Do not call registry http://ndncregistry.gov.in/ndncregistry/index.jsp

[Harshal 11]

Yup already done that a long time back.

[sougatadc 358]

Yup already done that a long time back.

Same experience here. I am a DND registrant for a long time. Still receiving TM sms regularly.

[me_saket 73]

same here

[::Hitesh:: 1,763]

I am to registered on DND from long time, i never got any sms from rim for their advert,

But always receive sms from this kind of draws.

I use indyarocks to send free sms from website, they use TM-IROXS without any number,

I think they have taken a server service from some operator and sending this kind of number less sms.

now a days there are very small companies offering bulk sms package online with your own name.

recently i registered a domain name, with that i got 100 corporate sms pack free.

From which i can send this kind of sms with any name without any number.

[raccoon 53]

Dudes (those of you who have registered for DND), aren't you supposed to bring this to the notice of your operator (RCom, I presume)? I was getting similar messges on my Idea number, though it is also registered for DND. I immediately complained to idea. They asked for the message details and contents. As of now, I very rarely get spam SMSes on my Idea number. The very few I do recieve, I immediately send to Idea. I expect the operator to see to it that it does not happen again. Suggest you do the same.

This is clearly mentioned on the Registry's website -

How to File a Complaint

Subscriber may complaint to his telecom service provider, if he receives Unsolicited Commercial Communnication (UCC) even after 45 days of regisering his number for UCC. While making the complaint to this telecom service provider, he should mention the call originating telephone number, date/time of the call and type of commercial message. It may be noted that complaint should be lodged within 15 days from the receipt of such UCC.

The subscriber should insist for the complaint No. which should be kept for further reference.

Before registering for DND, I was getting way too many promo SMS and calls from Idea. I tried to tell them to tone it down. They said register for DND; but I will then not get any useful offers either. I had no choice but to register as there was no way I could put up with that barrage.

As for my new RGSM number, I have not yet registered with DND, and I am being harassed by several SMSes and calls every day! Here the issue is that all these messages seem to originate by RCom itself, and from various Reliance mobile numbers. I guess I'll have to register this under DND too. But does RCom also stop useful offers also if registered for DND?

However, my Airtel number has never been registered under DND, and between these three, I have found Airtel to send the least amount of promotional junk. Much as i hate Airtel, it has been relatively better in this regard.

Edited January 7, 2010 by raccoon

[::Hitesh:: 1,763]

^^^

You r right buddy !

next time i will do the same.

[raccoon 53]

^^^ You can do it right away, if you have retained any of the received SMSes. Calls received can be retried from your call log.

Further to my post above, the following is very relevant -

5. What happens to my complaint?

On receipt of UCC, you should make a complaint to your service provider

intimating the call originating number, date/time of the call and type of

commercial message you received, within 15 days from the receipt of

UCC. You may insist service provider for complaint number, for future

reference. As per regulations, the service provider has to intimate the

action taken, to the complainant within 28 days (in case of UCC belongs to

his own Telemarketer) and 35 days (in case of Telemarketer is of other

service provider) from receipt of the complaint.

6. How can I make complaint, if I receive UCC by SMS through alpha-

numeric identifier and without normal ten digit mobile?

You may make the complaint as specified in the Ans. to Q. 5 above, as it

is mandatory to all commercial SMSs, which are sent with only

identification and without the normal ten digit mobile numbers to prefix the

service provider code and the code of the service area provided to the

service provider (for example XY-HSBC, where X stands for service

provider and Y stands for service area).

Seems to me that these spam SMSes are originating from Tata numbers - TM ?

Edited January 7, 2010 by raccoon

[savramesh 37]

In Reliance GSM i get

RM - XXXXX sms - offer messages from Reliance

TM - XXXXX sms - third party sms [smstweet]

TA - XXXXX sms - third party sms [smstweet, Celcabs]

Note: i have registered my mobile number with smstweet and Celcabs

In Tata Docomo i get

TA - XXXXX sms - offer messages from Docomo

TM - XXXXX sms - third party sms [icici, Orkut, Prism, Tata]

AM - XXXXX sms - third party sms [icici]

Note: i have registered my mobile number with Icici, orkut but not with Prism

[Arun 795]

The first character (in TM, BA, RL, etc.) refers to Service Provider code (T - TATA, B - BSNL, R - Reliance) and the second character stands for Service area code (M - Mumbai, A - Andhra Pradesh, L - Kerala). The messages are sent through Bulk SMS providers through the operator's SMSC center. So this SPAM can certainly be tracked as TRAI made it compulsory in February 2009 that the approved Sender ID should be used for sending bulk messages. These are the directives given by TRAI: http://www.trai.gov.in/WriteReadData/trai/upload/Directives/131/direction10dec08.pdf (contains service provider code list and service area code list)

From the FAQ of a bulk SMS provider...

What is a Sender ID?

Sender ID is a max of 11 digit Alpha numeric code used to send message using your company name. Due to technical restriction some CDMA operator do not accept SMS bearing Alpha numeric Sender ID. In these cases, our default GSM Sender ID will be replaced automatically with alpha numeric id. You can also create and use your GSM sender ID for sending SMS to these operators on written approval. Remember this facility is available to our paid users only after due approval and verification.

For the service providers like Tata Indicom and Reliance who have CDMA, don't allow ALPHANUMERIC masking,

Our program automatically distinguishes the CDMA numbers from the GSM and masks when required. So GSM numbers will get the sender id you have set and CDMA numbers will get the fancy number we have set. You may also give a GSM number as sender id for cdma network which can be set for your account after due validation process.

Can I use this service for Marketing our products?

As per the prevailing rules you cannot use this service for mass marketing/spam. However you can use this service to push SMS to the clients who are eligible / agreed upon to receive your updates and promotions.

So it clearly states that the messages should be sent only to those who have subscribed to receive it.

Prohibited Content:

* Adult Oriented Products and Services - includes pornography (including child pornography), sexually explicit materials (in all media types such as Internet, phone, and printed materials), dating services, escort services, or prostitution services.

* Alcohol - includes sales of wine, beer, and liquor conducted over the Internet or mail order

* Collection Agencies - includes businesses that are engaged in the collection of uncollectible debt or accounts receivable and billing companies.

* Credit Services -- includes credit counseling, credit repair services, credit protection, and identity theft protection.

* Donations and Charitable Solicitations - includes charities and non-profit organizations without a valid 501©(3) tax exempt status, charitable solicitations, commercial fundraisers (including commercial co-venturers), or any activity associated with the solicitation of donations.

* Drugs - includes illegal drugs, drug paraphernalia, online or mail order pharmacies, importation of pharmaceuticals from foreign countries, and prescription devices.

* Financial Intermediaries and Money Service Businesses - includes online auctions, Internet malls processing third party payments, credit card aggregators, offshore banking operations, debt financing, money transmitters, check cashing services, currency exchange and dealing, cash advance services, payday lending, escrow services, any service that receives and processes money on behalf of others, and any issuers, redeemers, and sellers of money orders, travelers checks, and stored value products (other than retail gift cards).

* Firearms and Weapons - includes ammunition, guns, rifles, shotguns, pistols, other firearms, knives (automatic, spring-loaded knives, throwing, etc.), brass knuckles, or other weapons.

* Gambling Businesses - includes online gambling (including poker), lotteries (including sale of lottery tickets), games of chance (including sweepstakes and raffles), sports forecasting, or odds-making.

* Healthcare Discount Plans - includes discount healthcare plans or membership programs.

* Illegal, Inappropriate or Offensive Items or Activities - includes any good or service that violates local, state, or federal laws or regulations or that would be generally offensive to others. Examples include stolen goods, Cuban cigars, cable descramblers, materials that infringe other's intellectual property rights (including pirated software and counterfeit goods), human body parts, endangered species, items that defame or slander others, hate literature, occult materials, and any other items or activities that in our judgment are illegal, inappropriate or offensive in connection with our services.

* Marketing Businesses - includes direct marketing, subscription merchants, telemarketing, multi-level marketing, "up-sell" merchants, infomercial merchants, and rebate-based businesses.

* Membership Clubs - includes buyer clubs, membership clubs, and lifetime memberships or guarantees.

* Miracle Cure Products - includes cures, remedies or enhancement products, and other health/nutritional products offering guaranteed results.

* Money Making ("Get Rich") Businesses - includes information guides, warranty fees, mortgage reduction services, and any product or service where a prize is guaranteed, marketing media is unavailable, premiums/incentives are offered, promises of future guaranteed results are made, or any rebate or reward program.

* Phone Services - includes 800 or 900 phone services and audio text services, prepaid phone cards, and prepaid phone services.

* Regulated Activities - includes bail bonds services, security brokers, and bankruptcy attorneys.

* Tobacco Products - includes cigars, cigarettes, and other tobacco products.

* Travel and Time Share Services - includes agencies, tour operators, clubs, packages, airlines, cruise lines, time shares, and property management companies.

Messages like these clearly violate them.

[Harshal 11]

I would like to lodge the complaint. Where should I lodge it? Reliance (my Service Provider) or Tata (originating Service Provider)?

If Reliance, please provide a link I was not able to find any place on the rcom website to launch a DND complaint.

[raccoon 53]

Dude, you have to lodge a complaint with your service provider only... the originating source is not really your problem.

I don't think you can lodge a complaint thru the website, but you could email the complaint to customer care or the service assurance cell. Mention all details like source, date, time and entire SMS content. Insist on a complaint number and later demand to know what action has been taken, after the stipulated time.

Edited January 8, 2010 by raccoon