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Codebreaker

Verizon cracks down on text message fraud

John Moe Mar 10, 2011

Verizon is suing individuals and small companies who have been running a scam on cell phone users. Works like this: user gets an offer to be sent content like recipes or video game tips via text message. But the apparent cost and the actual cost are dramatically different, which the sucker/customer doesn’t realize until the bills start coming in. The charges aren’t huge, three to ten bucks a month, so it’s the kind of thing you might not even notice and just pay anyway. Verizon is offering refunds to customers roped in. It’s not saying how many people fell for it but it does say it was a significant number.

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