The Daily Mirror reported today on how premium rate mobile conmen targeted readers of the teen magazines “Shoot” and “Bliss” with offers of obscene video clips and a dating service with “sxy singles”. We welcome the exposure of these cons but its very concerning that the regulators aren’t penalising the companies involved. Not only was the company (Blue Stream Ltd) trading with a name (“Free 4 U”) that was confusing with the trading name of the UK’s leading mobile retailer “Phones 4U” but it was also promising fraudulent claims of “NO RIP-OFFS, 100% FREE ACCESS”. The regulator even found that when youngsters were clicking on a particular page simply to look at a picture they were actually being charged as if they had downloaded it.
It’s a great shame that such services are undoubtedly bringing into disrepute the many companies, like The 3G Dating Agency, who are trying to build consumer trust in the mobile internet.Whilst the regulator PhonePayPlus was harse in its condemnation of the company as “Wilful, or at least reckless” it highlighted some of the huge issues with disreputable premium content companies who target mobile users under the age of 18. In small print the company defended itself by claiming that it was a “16-plus service” and by denying that “Shoot” was a children’s magazine.
This was the companies 5th formal reprimand in 18 months and the service was provided by Wireless Information Network who have themselves had eight more formal reprimands and been fined some £163,000 in the last year.
As the Mirror article rightly points out the fines are measly and the regulators need to start hitting rogue firms where it hurts!
