“SMiShing” – Mobile Phone Scams supported by EE?

1st October 2018 by Grant McCormick

SMiShing (SMS phishing) is a type of phishing attack where mobile phone users receive text messages containing a Web site hyperlink, which, if clicked would download a Trojan horse to the mobile phone.

I have been receiving regular text messages for some time now, saying “You subscribed to Clicnscore for £4.50 per week from ClicNScores until you text STOP” – bad English I know. I had another message from “Loaded Mobi”- “You can access the games portal here” followed by a link.

Thinking both were merely “SMiShing, I clicked on neither STOP nor the link. Unfortunately our phone bills go straight to our Accountant, but I had cause lately to query a bill I thought was high. It turns out both of these companies have been regularly paid through my EE account.

EE informed me it was not there responsibility & gave me text links to cancel subscriptions & phone numbers to complain & ask for a refund. Both numbers are automated, ClicnScore gives you a message “there are no charges to your phone” – then cuts you off, Loaded Mobi puts you in a call queue then cuts you off.

I have since searched these 2 companies on the internet, they have been investigated on Watchdog, reported on BBC, The Express & Mail Newspapers. The Sun Newspaper first reported this back in the 19th of May 2016.

EE say while they are aware, had so many complaints & have investigated, they still have no responsibility as you have the option to block all payments from your account. Shouldn’t EE be at least protecting our accounts against such well publicised Common Scams? It would be so simple for EE to set up authentication, so why not take responsibility for Customer Data & Accounts – have they a vested interest?

Perhaps merits an ICO investigation? I’ll certainly report!