UK sends out Spam SMS to 18-24 Y/O's to raise awareness of Spam sms

UK Government Office "spams" Mobile Phones

The UK's Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has sent out thousands of fake scam text messages to 18-24 year-old mobile phone users to raise awareness about scams. The text message, sent out as part of Scams Awareness Month, reads: "Urgent! U may have won £1k cash with '2 Good 2 B True'." It is followed shortly afterwards by a second text that makes clear that there is in fact no prize and that the message has been sent by the OFT to warn about scams.

The message also highlights SMSus, a new text message service launched by PhonepayPlus, the phone-paid service regulator. SMSus allows users to text details of a premium rate number or shortcode and receive an automatic reply with the cost of the number, details of the service provider, how to contact them and how to complain if necessary.

The OFT estimates that around 6 per cent of all scam victims are aged between 15 and 24, losing money to a variety of mass marketed scams each year.

Mike Haley, Director of Consumer Protection at the OFT, said "Young people can fall for exactly the same types of scam as anyone else, often delivered through the latest technology. We hope that our innovative approach of sending fake scam text messages will remind young consumers to be on their guard if they receive a suspicious offer."

UK Government Office "spams" Mobile Phones

 

I haven't been spammed on my phone, but what's scary is that they knew which phones belonged to 18 to 24 year olds phones and only sent it to them and no one else. What type of data are they collecting to know what age a person is that's using the phones?