Wapstar fraud

stephen_connell

Anyone got a resolution to the theft of £4.50 from accounts, it must add up to a significant amount of money, and it seems to have started by giffgaff sharing my number, but now they just pass you off to try solve it yourself!

natty88

stephen_connell You'll need between 8p and 15p credit to text stop to number in text message read this

if you've received a premium rate text saying you've subscribed to a service please check these two guides out

premium texts guide

https://community.giffgaff.com/d/18597940-premium-text-charges-do-s-and-don-t-s

Also check here

https://www.payforitsucks.co.uk

muggles708

stephen_connell
@_kara_ has offered to make sure that these cases are properly investigated.

https://community.giffgaff.com/d/33028195-wapstar/15

Please follow the process and let us know the outcome.

You can also pursue Remote Games Ltd yourself. You are entitled to see proof that you consented to their charges. Vague statements that you must have clicked on a link are NOT PROOF OF CONSENT

Insist on seeing::
• Screenshots of the subscription workflow where you were alleged to have signed up for this service.
• A description of what the service you are supposed to have subscribed to provides? Is this a newsletter, access to a web portal?
• Any evidence that after supposedly signing up for the service, you actually used it
• The complete web server log of the subscription, including the User Agent strings containing all device details (browser, device type, device IP address) together with dates and times.
• If the subscription started after 11th May 2019, auditable proof of the additional authentication used (as required to comply with O2/giffgaff rules)
• Full company details of the company operating the service, country of registration, full name of company, company number and registered company address.
• Details of the Accredited Payment Intermediary(API) which handled the payment
• Details of the company’s disputes procedure, including any ADR scheme you can refer the matter to if they fail to provide a full refund.

If they can't provide this, they are in breach of the Phone-paid Services Authority rules and you should receive a FULL refund of money taken and your costs..

Payforit scams should also be reported to the regulator here:
https://psauthority.org.uk/for-consumers/report-an-issue

The company behind this scam are Remote Games Ltd, who have previously been fined £70,000 with £15,000 costs by the regulator for operating similar scams. https://psauthority.org.uk/for-business/adjudications/2015/2/remote-games-ltd-18639-adjudication-by-consent-adaf414e-59a1-e411-a529-00155d051116

It is to be regretted that giffgaff continues to facilitate fraud by such companies, and that, despite assurances given on this forum, members are still being fobbed off by agents without any proper investigation.

stephen_connell

natty88

many thanks

wedgington

natty88 great guide from sloz that is thanks for the link 👍

natty88

stephen_connell your welcome anytime

sloz

stephen_connell
Wrote...
have figured out where this started though, Heart FM run a competition if you hear a particular artist play on the radio station (once, twice or three times) you can text them to be in with a chance of winning some money, I wonder if Heart are aware this is happening to their listeners who enter their competitions by text
.
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stephen_connell
That's intresting, can you recalliif there any information on the Web site
Advising that you were entering into a weekly competition
Or did you enter by listening to details on the radio?

Have you entered a competition subsequently?

stephen_connell

muggles708 Thanks Will do, I spoke to them by phone and they advised that I was signed up to the service on 28th March, they could not tell what I signed up for or what they were providing me they just said I had to email them which I have done. I have figured out where this started though, Heart FM run a competition if you hear a particular artist play on the radio station (once, twice or three times) you can text them to be in with a chance of winning some money, I wonder if Heart are aware this is happening to their listeners who enter their competitions by text? I will try get in touch with Heart to let them know, though I suspect there may be some payback to them in this somewhere. Its very disappointing that giffgaff are allowing this to happen to their customers, so much so that after 8 years of being with them I am leaving 😅

muggles708

stephen_connell
I would be amazed if Heart FM were involved in this scam. Are you aware that giffgaff routinely leak your number when you use mobile data to access the internet?

Take a look at this report for BBC Watchdog for a more plausible explanation of how you became subscribed. https://www.surecloud.com/services/blog/bbc-watchdog-research-paper-payforit
The guide by sloz is useful, but really doesn't tell you how to get a refund. You won't usually get one by asking nicely. You need to assert your rights under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013. The "service provider" has to PROVE that you consented to the charges. The burden of proof rests with the "service provider" to PROVE that the charge was lawful. If they can't do this, you should receive a FULL refund together with any costs you incur in obtaining it. You can use the Small Claims procedure if the "service provider" is uncooperative.
Under the 'Payforit' rules, giffgaff also have an obligation to investigate once you can prove that you have "discussed" your complaint with the "service provider". Sadly, it would seem that giffgaff are ignoring their obligations in this respect. It is a disgrace that members are having to go to the Small Claims court to assert rights in respect of complaints that giffgaff have an obligation to investigate. Perhaps @_kara_ can explain??

“Your network has added value in terms of access, search, the Payforit scheme and the charging mechanism and you can escalate any dispute between you and the seller to your network for them to make a decision, as long as you have discussed the dispute with the seller and can provide evidence of that discussion to your network”

scrupps

giffgaff could do with stamping this out. It can’t be that difficult to do!