The GSM Short Code Service has suddenly become another platform for fraudster to rip-off gullible Nigerians. It is a case of robbing several gullible Peters to pay one Paul, while pocketing the remaining proceed. Here is my personal observation. I noticed some months back that I kept receiving unsolicited SMS from strange five digit numbers. Each one requesting that I send SMS to the five digit number in other to win a million naira or some other fantastic gifts.
FIFA 2010 World Cup was used as a bait
The volume of such SMS increased as the FIFA 2010 world cup football competition started. I started receiving as much as three such unsolicited SMS messages per day. I guess the euphoria provided by the world cup created a conducive atmosphere for those behind this new scheme to con unsuspecting Nigerians into parting with their money.
Some of my friends played the SMS Short Code Lottery
Some of my friends actually sent SMS to those five digit numbers, expecting that they will win a million naira or some other fantastic gift. One of them confessed that he didn’t realize when he sent as much as N1,000 in piece meal to such short codes. Yet he won nothing. I am yet to meet one person that has won anything from such. Never mind adverts on Television and Radio stations, those are just part of the gimmicks to con unsuspecting Nigerians into responding to such SMS.
GSM Short Code Fraud!
Naturally, I don’t like lottery. I believe it is morally wrong to collect money from several individuals and then give a small percentage of it to one individual while the rest of the contributors go away empty handed. I consider such an illegitimate way of making money since the odd is always in the favor of the one who organizes such lottery.
It is personal greed that makes people not to bother about the fact that for every one person that wins a lottery, there are thousands that have lost money into the organizers pocket. So the organizer can best be describe as a legalized con artist. He collects from all with fake promise but only part with a fraction of what he collects! I know this sounds controversial, but that is my humble opinion. Back to the topic, GSM Short Code Service.
Is Anybody Regulating the GSM Short Code Service?
To the best of my understanding, the GSM Short Code Service in Nigeria is presently being used for lottery (the government agency responsible for licensing such activity however is in slumber, so every Tom, Dick and Harry are carrying out the activity without obtaining lottery license).
BlackBerry Bold Offered For Thirty Naira (20cents)!
You feel that is outrageous. Well, that is the kind of offer I received. I’ve reproduced verbatim the SMS I received. It offered me a BlackBerry Bold worth N63,000 for a token 20cents if only I agree to be greedy enough to part with 20cents.
From 33114
Get a chance to win a blackberry Bold this week as the World Cup Quiz comes to an end. Simply text START to 33114 and you could be the Ultimate Winner! N30/SMS
What do you think? An outrageous offer? Sounds too good to be true? Well, let’s keep the emotions out of this and be factural. If you analyse the SMS message above, you will notice the following facts:
1. The subscriber is being asked to acquire a Blackberry Bold for N30 (ordinarily, one will need about N63,000 to purchase one here in Nigeria)
2. The message stated clearly that the subscriber could be the Ultimate Winner! (at least the sender was fair enough to indicate that this is nothing but a gamble. Since the subscriber is greedy enough to want a Blackberry Bold that is worth sixty-three thousands naira for just thirty naira)
3.The bet is placed once the subscriber responds to the SMS.
Since I love maths, I quickly did a little calculation and discovered that it only takes 2,100 gullible or greedy people to pay for the Blackberry, then the rest of the fund realized will simply be counted as profit by the person who set up the GSM short code.
Unfortunately, it is not all that even part with a gift. Someone was bold enough to confess that he simply pocket the money without parting with anything of value to the subscribers. The claim was made in a forum, so it wasn’t possible to identify the fellow. But it goes a long way to reveal that responding to such SMS is foolish as you will be making someone rich at your own expense.
Are the Nigerian Telecoms Operators Collaborators?
It bothers me that the GSM operators in Nigeria are willingly or unconsciously collaborating with the con artist in this rip-off. The GSM Short Code Service has suddenly become the new way some fraudulent Nigerians are robbing others of their hard earned cash. They have become so successful that they are now making boast of their nefarious activities. One of them even claim it is a new way of making money online!
If you’ve been enriching others by responding to such stupid SMS messages, I advice you stop as you may never win a dime. Even if you indeed win something, your conscience will prick you that you are enjoying what was deceitfully stolen from others. I might be sounding religious, but that is the truth, you can deny it all you like.
I will like to hear others opinion on the legitimacy or otherwise of the GSM Short Code Service. If it is not fraud, then what is it?
Hi, nice of you to visit again. I do hope you got some useful information. If you have not done so yet, I encourage you to subscribe to my RSS feed. That way you will not miss any update. Kindly share your feelings in the comment section. Cheers!
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They are just trying to play on our greed, of course and the network are just keeping quiet, since they would get their of share of whatsoever amount of sms that was sent, good luck if you ever win!!!
Someone claim that the Telecoms Providers share out of the proceed of such Short Code Services. I don’t know how true that is. Though I guess they couldn’t have given out the code for free in the first place. There must be some sort of payment for leasing the code out. But even at that, the Telecoms Providers owes it as a duty to Nigerians to ensure that their service is not being used as a platform for defrauding innocent people. They have the capacity to monitor what those codes are being used for, and ban users who are abusing the system.
it was very interesting to read naijaecash.com
I want to quote your post in my blog. Can I?
And do you have an account on Twitter?
I would like to exchange links with your site naijaecash.com
Is this possible?
Yes, the short code thing is a program an individual enters as a result of greed so you can’t blame anyone for their misfortune. For the operators, they have percentage of the revenue, 40% i learned. we only blame those who participate in the get rich quick scheme, not the perpetrators. There are valid uses of the code messaging but it is been abused.
Bakare O. O.´s last blog ..Factors for Success in Marriage – Love
I agree with you that there are legitimate uses for the GSM Short Code Services. It is a great tool for businesses and corporate organization to communicate with their customers. It is a pity that it got hijacked by fraudster and the service providers were pretending like they didn’t know what was happening. I read somewhere that NCC has officially informed the GSM service provider to stick to their operation licenses and not get involve in any activity that resemble lottery. Let’s see how far that warning will dissuade them from collaborating with the “get rich quick” scammers.
I love your blog. Nice work you’re doing there, please keep it up. Cheers.
I am really surprised that the shortcode is currently not managed by a body in Nigeria.
This leaves me with the question. Whom do you contact to get a shortcode that works for all GSM operators in Nigeria. I am looking for a reliable one.
Your site is good.Keep it up. Don’t forget to check us out at:
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Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope the NCC will not go full blast blocking all and sundry from using the short code? I am just trying to develop another blog on inspiration which I intend to use short code with to motivate others to keep the flame of life glowing and to help in keeping our focus on God.
Bakare´s last blog ..Factors for Success in Marriage – Love
A MESSAGE OF HOPE FROM AN ENTREPRENEUR
This message is to bring a ray of hope to those either sadden by the recent layoffs in the financial and corporate world in Nigeria and wherever you may be reading this and is apprehensive of what the future might hold.
As the adage says there is a message in that mess.
Simple antidotes for combating fear, hurt , disbelief and heartbreak.
• It is ok to cry and mourn, don’t bottle your emotions, give yourself time to grieve. However please don’t become the following, resentful of others, bitter, angry at the system or someone
• Be open and candid to Godly counsel, whatever the religious beliefs you belong to.
• Surround yourself around those that will uplift you and not feel sorry for you to keep fanning the wounds , rather those that will encourage you to pick up the pieces and move on.
• Speak to yourself, where there is life there is hope.
• Read about those who failed or fell or lost something but rose up to the challenge to become formidable. Have you heard about Abraham Lincoln one of the greatest presidents that ever ruled America. What of Martha Stewart.
• This is the time to reconnect with your spouse, especially those that are supportive
• Seek for wise counsel on the way forward, I encourage not to jump into anything , give yourself time. What is your passion? You may be ripe for it. It is time to take stock of all your resources, cut back on wasteful expenditure, you have no one to impress.
• Turn all unwanted resources, jewelries, even cars to liquid cash.
• Save or fix as the bankers say , till you have a plan on what you want to do.
• Explore all opportunities, either looking for a job with lower pay if you have the connections or network of contacts, or simply seek to create one.
• To survive especially meeting your family expenses or yours, it is encouraged you have a stream of income, which is called the survival money stream. Investing in an already money making venture which will produce cash flow immediately.
• Secondly, invest in an income stream that will bring your talent to bare and you have to nurture it and grow it with time
• Before the last two is done, assess your financial needs, what are your monthly bills like, if you spend over N9000 on Dstv, you may have cut it down to N2,500 for the family bouquet. Same with others. If your generating sets was on 24/7 or immediately the children are back from school you may have to cut it down to when the sun sets
• Frugality is the watch word.
• Don’t think of checking out , rather work hard and you will be celebrated.
For more on this message send me an mail on angela@angelaitambo.com or you can visit angelaitambo.com to know my counseling sessions requirements. It is not over till it is over. God bless you.
Yes, the short code thing is a program an individual enters as a result of greed so you can’t blame anyone for their misfortune.
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agree with you
I have not really read your article but I feel you may be right also.
I love your comments here, but lets look at the Short Codes from different angles, we still have some reliable sources that uses the Short Codes appreciably to contribute to the success and enlightenment of the Nigerians. We still have the ones which are very good and liable, its just that the ones that are good are few. Thanks
they dealt with me last year. i did the glo lottery while my brother did treasure hunt. it was a very sad period. i used almost half my salary to play the sms lottery. i agree that it takes two greedy people for a faud to occur!
jumoke´s last blog ..Vacancy for female doctors
Its clear that a little bit of fraud is involved. Or is it acting out on the greedy nature of man? Look at it both ways.
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This looks like one of those cut & paste spam. But then I won’t be surprise if the guy who pasted this have been making money from some unsuspecting Nigerians with the promise of getting them a placement in a College in Canada. I allowed this particular SPAM COMMENT to give readers an idea of what they usually look like. The commenter above surely have nothing to offer after collecting your cash!