WIN PLC/Ltext.com 85222: scam or 'massive technical hitch'

[El Gringo]

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...html?t=1456265
http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/85222

and all before the ppp ink has dried
http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/consu...udications.asp

WIN's previous 'massive technical hitch's
http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/busin...eywords=&cmd=2
http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/busin...eywords=&cmd=2

Sally Weatherall certainly knows her legal crap but not too hot on the technical side of 'business'
..............................................
Tele Auditions Limited — Terms of Use & Competition Rules
29 Sep 2008 ... text STOP to the relevant shortcode found in each text message sent to your handset OR alternatively you may email stop@ltext.com. ...
ltext.com/terms/ - 34k - Cached - Similar pages

Tele Auditions Limited
Terms of Use & Competition Rules

Definitions
"Website" means the relevant website situated at www.ltext.com.

Rules
The winner(s) will be notified by e-mail, SMS message or telephone as soon as possible after the Competition draw. For the names of the winner(s) up to one (1) month after the Competition closes, please send an SAE to Tele Auditions, Monomark House, 27 Old Gloucester Street, London, WC1N 3XX.

http://www.publiclettering.org.uk/Im...M/DSC00310.jpg
Private Post Boxes

The domain of Ltext seems to have something to do with Virtualplus ltd (registered by them)
"Winplc told me too it was an accident, was Bulletin Wireless's fault"

http://www.annualreportgate.co.uk/VI...S+LIMITED.aspx
Company Details - VIRTUALPLUS LIMITED
Registered No.03257690

Address: MONOMARK HOUSE,
27 OLD GLOUCESTER STREET,
LONDON,
LONDON, WC1N 3XX
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en...e+Search&meta=

[Hamlet]

TELE AUDITIONS LIMITED
280 GRAYS INN ROAD
LONDON
WC1X 8EB
Company No. 06064939
Status: Active


Date of Incorporation: 24/01/2007


Director:
BERNARD ALEXANDER *07.05.1973
1091 MILFORD CHURCH ROAD
MARIETTA
GEORGIA 30060
[USA!]
(an appartment)
(MARIETTA, not MERIETTA)

Ex-Director:
LLOYD EMANUEL BARRETT *14.06.1969
254 BUCKHURST WAY
BUCKHURST HILL
IG9 6JG
ESSEX
Secretary:
THE COMPANY REGISTRATION AGENTS LIMITED

thanx to the German company registration file crew

In the Georgia company database you can find Mr Bernard Alexander:

http://corp.sos.state.ga.us/corp/soskb/Corp.asp?132684

718 Corporation(field of business: jewelry)

Title: CEO
Name: MELISSA MONTES
Address: 148 JARNIGAN DR.
ATHENS GA 30605


Title: CFO
Name: BERNARD ALEXANDER
Address: 4426 HUGH HOWELL RD
TUCKER GA 30084

Company Sec retary

Title: Secretary
Name: ERICA ZAMORANO
Address: 1091 MILFORD CHURCH RD
MARIETTA GA 30060

seems to be related.

Also:

"Nuri Amani Diamond & Gold Company" (dissolved)
http://corp.sos.state.ga.us/corp/soskb/Corp.asp?338832

Officers

Title: CEO
Name: BERNARD ALEXANDER
Address: 4426 HUGH HOWELL RD
TUCKER GA 30084

The registered agent is Melissa Montes

[El Gringo]

http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/85222/3


it might be this guy
'Look into my eyes, look into my eyes, the eyes, the eyes, not around the eyes, don't look around the eyes, look into my eyes. You're under!
in a moment you will believe....'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4v6q1BHarY

[Cormoran]

@El Gringo,

I have just read the 'Whocalled me' link that you posted:

Quote:
'PhonepayPlus received 106 consumer complaints in respect of the receipt of unsolicited chargeable text messages, reportedly sent from short codes and 076 mobile long numbers, which cost £1.50 per message received.'

What is an 076 mobile long number? Are these the long codes used by T-Mobile and others that can't be traced on the PP+ code checker? We looked into these a while back, without much success.

[mike99]

No.

Those were numbers such as "700034853" (9 digits, no leading zero) and used by T-mobile and Virgin (who use the T-mobile network).

Ofcom agree that the use of these numbers (cf a shortcode or 09 number that can be used to identify the sender) is undesirable, but they are not actually going to take any action against T-mobile and Virgin. (NB the short code corresponding to 700034853 was 83660, so the shortcode cannot be inferred from the long number)

A "076 mobile long number" must be exactly what it sounds like - a normal mobile number. Quite how these can be used to send unsolicited reverse charge SMS, I'm not sure.

[El Gringo]

here they are (WIN and Antiphony)
http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Calls.aspx/076

here's one of the numbers by name
http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/07624803393
076248***** manx telecom

@ Cormoran, google this
"qryExportToS7codeXLS" = 070 and 07*

076 = radio paging numbers


here's the list for
"qryExportToS8codeXLS" = 08


that WIN employee is either a crook or a complete and utter moron (or both)
http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/85222/3

@ Sally Weatherall "what did you do today at work mummy"

[El Gringo]

@ Sally Weatherall "what did you do today at work mummy"

i spent my day misleading the public as to the main cause behind the massive increase in premium rate fraud. i avoided telling them about WIN plc continually teaming up with crooks who are using third party data lists of mobile phone numbers.
http://www.winplc.com/uploadedFiles/...80717-0633.mp3

[El Gringo]

ok, who is Ltext.com??????????
.................................................. .
Registrant:
Domains by Proxy, Inc.
DomainsByProxy.com
15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
United States

Domain Name: LTEXT.COM
Created on: 01-Aug-03
Expires on: 01-Aug-09
Last Updated on: 26-Nov-08
.................................................
no help
................................................
Tele Auditions Limited — Terms of Use & Competition Rules
29 Sep 2008 ... text STOP to the relevant shortcode found in each text message sent to your handset OR alternatively you may email stop@ltext.com. ...
ltext.com/terms/ - 34k - Cached - Similar pages

Tele Auditions Limited
Terms of Use & Competition Rules

Definitions
"Website" means the relevant website situated at www.ltext.com.

Rules
The winner(s) will be notified by e-mail, SMS message or telephone as soon as possible after the Competition draw. For the names of the winner(s) up to one (1) month after the Competition closes, please send an SAE to Tele Auditions, Monomark House, 27 Old Gloucester Street, London, WC1N 3XX.

http://www.publiclettering.org.uk/Im...M/DSC00310.jpg
Private Post Boxes

The domain of Ltext seems to have something to do with Virtualplus ltd (registered by them)
"Winplc told me too it was an accident, was Bulletin Wireless's fault"

http://www.annualreportgate.co.uk/VI...S+LIMITED.aspx
Company Details - VIRTUALPLUS LIMITED
Registered No.03257690

Address: MONOMARK HOUSE,
27 OLD GLOUCESTER STREET,
LONDON,
LONDON, WC1N 3XX
.................................................. ....
27 OLD GLOUCESTER STREET?????????????
.................................................. ......
http://www.the-scream.co.uk/forums/s...05&postcount=6

Domain Name: BLUE-STREAM.BIZ
Domain ID: D10123715-BIZ
Sponsoring Registrar: TUCOWS INC.
Sponsoring Registrar IANA ID: 69
Domain Status: clientTransferProhibited
Domain Status: clientUpdateProhibited
Registrant ID: TUHD7U0RLW0IUGZ0
Registrant Name: Joe Peters joepetersATblues-tream.biz
Registrant Organization: Blue Stream
Registrant Address1: 27 Old Gloucester Street
Registrant City: London
Registrant State/Province: London
Registrant Postal Code: WC1N3XX
Registrant Country: UNITED KINGDOM
Registrant Country Code: GB
Registrant Phone Number: +44.0207775775
Registrant Email:
Administrative Contact ID: TUQVEWJAE3S9MX3R
Administrative Contact Name: Alex Furness-Smith alexATpccltd.net
Administrative Contact Organization: Blue Stream
Administrative Contact Address1: The Cartwheel
Administrative Contact Address2: London Road East
Administrative Contact City: Amersham
Administrative Contact State/Province: Bucks
Administrative Contact Postal Code: HP79DT
Administrative Contact Country: UNITED KINGDOM
Administrative Contact Country Code: GB
Administrative Contact Phone Number: +44.01494765521
Administrative Contact Email:
..............................................
Alex Furness-Smith>>>>?
..............................................
Domain name: americanmobileventures.com

Registrant Contact:
NA
American Mobile Ventures

72 West Street
Marlow, BUCKS SL7 2BP
GB

Administrative Contact:
NA
Alex Furness-Smith
+44.1494765521
The Cartwheel
London Road East
Amersham, BUCKS HP7 9DT
GB
.........................
American Mobile Ventures
..........................
Registrant:
Antiphony
American Mobile Ventures Ltd
65 High Street
Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL71AB
GB

Domain name: ANTIPHONY.NET

Administrative Contact:
Cresswell, Jack
American Mobile Ventures Ltd
65 High Street
Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL71AB
GB
+44.1628405686
Technical Contact:
Ltd, GX Networks
5 Roundwood Avenue
Stockley Park
Uxbridge, Middlesex UB11 1FF
GB
+44.48712309525 Fax: +44.8701650437
............................
so Ltext.com>>Antiphony>>Blue Stream Mobile and all 'service/information providers' for WIN plc
...........................
http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/busin...p?cmd=3&id=813
22 Jan 2009
Content and/or promotion provided by...........Wireless Information Network Limited
Service provider responsible for
compliance under the Code of Practice..........Antiphony Limited
Number of complaints.................................106
Fine £30000
........................................
http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/busin...eywords=&cmd=2
31 Jul 2008
Content and/or promotion provided by..............Blue Stream Mobile Limited
Service provider responsible for compliance
under the Code of Practice............................Wireless Information Network Limited
Fine £6000

13 May 2008
Content and/or promotion provided by.............Blue Stream Mobile Limited
Service provider responsible for compliance
under the Code of Practice...........................Wireless Information Network Limited
Fine £7000

02 Apr 2007
Content and/or promotion provided by.............Blue Stream Mobile Limited
Service provider responsible for compliance
under the Code of Practice............................Wireless Information Network Limited
Fine £5000

23 Oct 2006
Content and/or promotion provided by..............Blue Stream Mobile Limited
Service provider responsible for compliance
under the Code of Practice.............................Wireless Information Network Limited
.................................................. .....................
and where did Antiphony Limited say they bought their list of mobile phone numbers from
http://www.the-scream.co.uk/forums/s...86&postcount=1

[El Gringo]

the Directors
Nathaniel MacLeitch and Jonathan Cresswell

the company
American Mobile Ventures
http://www.americanmobileventures.com/

http://www.blue-stream.biz/our_regulatory_statement.php
We believe that our pricing policies, our terms and conditions and clear advertising are an example of a company trying to operate fair, clear and compliant services.

We respect the fact that the reputation of premium content service providers in the UK is not all that it could and should be, and we are striving to be seen as a fair player whose approach to marketing, quality of content & service, and customer care is an example for others.

We admit that we do occasionally get it wrong. We are only human and with such a broad range of services and advertising, not to mention the sheer volume of constantly shifting regulatory compliance, mistakes do very occasionally happen. That we put right and learn from these mistakes is the most important factor.
Fair-play. Our customers are important to us. We need their repeat business. We want them to choose to visit our portal and spend money with us, over and above our competitors. We are therefore fully committed to a policy of fair-play with our customers.
......................................
http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/busin...eywords=&cmd=2

[El Gringo]

http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.../itemId/861396

http://www.the-scream.co.uk/forums/t28677.html?
The group surveyed 450 members and found half of them had received an unsolicited premium message on their mobile phone. Two thirds of them were then charged for it.
The ACCC has warned the phone industry not to engage in practices that frustrate customers.

Last week, the consumer watchdog launched legal action against two overseas companies promoting phone services in local magazines for failing to properly disclose the true costs of services.

http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.../itemId/861083
Misleading advertising of mobile premium services in youth magazines – ACCC action

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has begun court action under the Trade Practices Act 1974 against two overseas based companies for alleged misleading advertising of mobile telephone premium services in Australian youth magazines.

The ACCC has also obtained enforceable undertakings under the Act from the Australian publishers of the youth magazines to improve the overall standard of advertising for mobile premium services.

Mobile premium services include wallpapers, ring-tones, horoscopes and games supplied through a mobile telephone or landline. Purchase of the services typically involves sending an SMS message to a number starting with '19'. The services attract a higher charge than a normal telephone call, and many involve on-going weekly or monthly subscription charges.

Legal proceedings have been commenced against the AMV Holdings Limited, a UK company, and against Teracomm Limited, a Bulgarian company, for alleged misleading advertisements for mobile premium services published in Dolly, Girlfriend and TV Hits magazines.

The enforceable undertakings have been provided by Pacific Magazines, the publisher of Girlfriend and TV Hits, and ACP Magazines, the publisher of Dolly, Cosmopolitan and Cleo.

The ACCC is concerned that the overall impression created by the attractive and busy layout of some advertisements for mobile premium services appearing in youth magazines, combined with the inadequate and inappropriate use of fine print disclaimers, is likely to be misleading in breach of the Act.

Of particular concern is advertising that does not adequately disclose the nature of the services being offered and their costs, such that consumers responding to the advertisements would unknowingly be subscribing to an ongoing and costly service rather than acquiring a one-off purchase of a particular ring-tone or wallpaper.

"Young, unsophisticated readers are costing themselves or their parents a lot of money by unwittingly signing up to these services. Advertisers must not rely on minute fine print to disclose important terms and conditions. The costs and nature of the services must be prominently and clearly identifiable within the advertisement, particularly when it is targeting young people," ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, said today.

To address the ACCC's concerns Pacific Magazines and ACP Magazines cooperated and provided enforceable undertakings which require that advertisements for mobile premium services published in their magazines targeted at young readers must clearly state:

* that the service is a subscription service
* the cost of the service, and
* the eligibility of consumers to receive the benefit of the services,

where this information is revealed in the relevant terms and conditions of the services.

In addition, both publishers are to publish an article in their youth magazines to inform readers of the nature, cost and characteristics of mobile premium services advertised in the magazines. They are also to review their trade practices compliance programs.

In relation to the legal proceedings commenced against AMV and Teracomm, Mr Samuel noted that many suppliers of mobile premium services to Australian consumers are based overseas.

"It is important for international companies operating in Australia to ensure their advertising is not misleading in breach of Australian law."

The ACCC will continue to monitor advertisements promoting mobile premium services both in the print and other media and will take action where those advertisements are likely to be misleading or deceptive.

Media inquiries: Ms Lin Enright (02) 6243 1108 or 0414 613 520
General inquiries: Infocentre 1300 302 502

Release # NR 030/09
Issued: 16th February 2009

Britain still sending crooks to Australia

[El Gringo]

http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/85222/3
At 19:16 on 26-Feb-09 I received an unsolicited text message from "+85222" which is apparently an invalid number, as follows: "From: +85222
FreeMsg: U Join QuizWiz for 1.50 every month until you send STOP to
85222 Helpline 08431102500 TsCs www.quizwiz.co.uk"
At 16:38 on 28-Feb-09 I received an unsolicited text message "From: 85222 Quizwiz question: Three Cubed is? A)13 B)19 C)27 Reply QUIZ A,B or C Unsubscribe send STOP to 85222 CC 08431102500 T&Cs www.quizwiz.co.uk"
Then only text I have ever sent to 85222 was "STOP ALL" at about 17:05 on 28-Feb-09. I demand a refund for any and all costs incurred.

http://www.phonespamfilter.co.uk/search.php/08431102500

so much for the phonepayplus 'crackdown'

[El Gringo]

http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.../itemId/861083
Misleading advertising of mobile premium services in youth magazines – ACCC action

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has begun court action under the Trade Practices Act 1974 against two overseas based companies for alleged misleading advertising of mobile telephone premium services in Australian youth magazines.
[]
Legal proceedings have been commenced against the AMV Holdings Limited, a UK company

16th February 2009

http://www.cellular-news.com/story/37992.php
ACCC Takes Action to Stop Misleading SMS Advertisements
15th June 2009

Australia's Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has won a court order against a UK based company, AMV Holdings Limited for publishing misleading adverts in Australian magazines offering mobile content.

"The busy layout of the advertisements appearing in youth magazines, combined with the inadequate and inappropriate use of fine print disclaimers, is misleading and in breach of the Trade Practices Act 1974," Acting ACCC Chairman, Mr Peter Kell, said today. "Of particular concern was that the advertising did not adequately disclose the nature of the services being offered and their costs. Consumers would unknowingly be subscribing to an ongoing and costly service rather than acquiring a one-off purchase of a particular ring-tone, wallpaper or game."

why don't they just close this damn 'industry' down.
does the