Senator Charles Schumer Calls On FCC To Put An End To Cell Phone Cramming

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) has called on the FCC to crackdown on cell phone crammers that use text messages to trick consumers in extra and unwanted charges.

Have you ever received a cryptic text message from an undisclosed number? It's possible you were being targeted by a phone-cramming scammer.

On Monday, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) called for the government to put a stop to this fraud, which uses text messaging to steal money from unsuspecting consumers.

Phone cramming takes place when you are sent text messages for fake services that result in extra fees and monthly charges.

In one case of cell phone cramming, a New York resident got an incoming text message as cryptic and juvenile as a bad riddle. It said, "Flamingos are pink because they eat shrimp." A second text instructed the consumer to text "STOP" to put an end to these messages. Next thing the recipient knew, there was a $9.99 bogus charge on his cell phone bill, according to the statement issued by the senator's office.

"Cell phone cramming is merely scamming by another name--it steals money from cell phone users and the FCC and carriers must take prompt action to snuff it out," Sen. Schumer said in a prepared statement on Monday.

Already two major carriers, Verizon and AT&T, have banned cramming on landlines--but not cellphones--thanks to an effort by Senator Sen. John D. Rockefeller (D-WV) last year. Sen. Schumer has also asked carriers to ban third-party cramming charges until the FCC passes a law to protect consumers.

Other cell phone cramming scams can look like enticements to sign up for a daily horoscope service or gossip news.

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Comments

[TriKyJoKeZ]

03:15 AM on 04/05/2012

Why aren't republicans doing anything about this?

[ruffdeezy]

10:57 PM on 04/03/2012

Yay chucky is on the case

[aimeeinchains]

02:19 PM on 04/03/2012

Worked for a major carrier, and this was always a big question that customers had about their bill. Very irritating to them, and rightfully so. Of course, the customer service rep is left to have to make every excuse in the world why these charges happen. We were more than glad to cancel subscriptions and refund charges, but I had cases of customers that went for nearly a year before they even noticed texting subscription charges.

[robinhood1]

10:36 AM on 04/03/2012

And then there are the old fashion US postal scams targeted to seniors about to enroll in Medicare. Beware of getting a mailer that looks like it comes from Social Security but doesn't. It includes a prepaid postcard with an address SD Reply Center PO PX 2528 Rockwall TX 75087-9973. If you fill in your phone number etc, your information will be given to telemarketers. The scam must work because the outfit has been in business since 1985. It is possible to skate very close to the edge of the law and still get an A+ from the Better Business Bureau, as long as the business pays its BBB fee.

[JBS]

08:44 PM on 04/02/2012

One of the reasons I don't have texting on my cell phone.

[Carlos Lomba Jr]

02:51 AM on 04/03/2012

just because you don't have text on your plan doesn't mean your phone can't receive any

[robinhood1]

11:10 AM on 04/03/2012

My cellphone is set up not to accept voice mail or texting. It takes a prepaid card. So far, after several years, I have not had a problem with unusual charges. My answering machine works quite well at home.

[JBS]

05:01 PM on 04/03/2012

No, but having gone to the service provider and getting them to block text messaging to my account does.