PhonepayPlus investigation: The Great iPhone Call Con

[El Gringo]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/01...one_app_probe/
Regulator sniffs around stonking iPhone game bills
Kids making accidental megabucks calls
28th January 2010

UK phone regulator PhonePayPlus has launched an investigation after game-playing iPhone users complained about surprise premium rate call charges.

Concerns have focused on a free to download, advertising-supported game called BubbleWrap, developed by Orsome New Zealand and available via Apple's App Store.

BubbleWrap comes with an embedded advert engine from AdMob. As previously reported, a minority of AdMob's ads encourage users to tap on the ad to visit a website or place a call (a function documented in an iPhone developer page here).

BubbleWrap is the sort of application that appeals to children, and it seems that premium rate calls were made when young users wandered beyond the game's main field of play onto ads, as one iTunes commenter explains. "The game is great and kids love it but their over eager fingers stray onto the advert banner at the bottom of the screen resulting in several premium rate calls at £1.50 a minute," Wearewolves writes.

Normally a warning dialogue box should be generated before a call is made, but this no longer happens following a software update from Apple. The upshot is that users of the free version of BubbleWrap started making premium-rate calls from their iPhones to unknown numbers since late November, sparking protests to UK regulator PhonePayPlus, which has now launched an investigation.

The organisation said:

PhonepayPlus has received complaints from smartphone users that have incurred premium rate charges as a result of touching banner ads that appear within some mobile applications.
Phone-paid service providers must ensure clear and accurate pricing information is available in all promotions. We are currently investigating certain services that have caused complaints and will take firm action where appropriate.

A PhonePayPlus spokeswoman explained that the focus of this investigation is the two telecom firms maintaining the premium rate numbers being dialled.

"PhonepayPlus is investigating various 09 numbers that we have received consumer complaints about," a PhonePayPlus spokeswoman explained. "The Service Providers responsible for these numbers under our Code of Practice are Think Telecom Solutions Ltd and Rare Direct Media Limited.

"Obviously, the investigations are open and ongoing, so no decisions have yet been made."

A Think Telecom Solutions spokesman told us he wasn't previously aware of the PhonePayPlus investigation. He added that it was only a reseller and suggested any complaints would be more properly directed at its customers.

"We are mobile telecoms dealers who resell airtime to our 600 plus customers, who operate 8,400 lines," he said. "Nonetheless we take any complaints seriously."

Hubble, bubble, toil and trouble
Peter Watling, author of BubbleWrap, told El Reg that the issue affects more than just his application, even though Bubblewrap has been the focus of complaints thus far.

"I saw one report online saying it happened while they used Facebook too, does that use AdMob?" Watling said.

"I'm sure this behaviour isn't limited to my app only. I have passed on a list of numbers I was sent that were dialed, to AdMob to see they are all blocked."

Rik Ferguson, a security consultant at Trend Micro, backed up Watling's assessment that the issue extends beyond BubbleWrap.

"The developer of BubbleWrap stating categorically that his app does not contain code for making calls. The telephone number itself belongs to Rare Direct Media," Ferguson told El Reg

"It looks like there is already an investigation underway into that number. Someone else complained that this number was dialled when they were using the Independent's ad-sponsored newsreader."

AdMob isn't supposed to accept adverts tied to premium-rate numbers, a factor further complicating the situation. AdMob has told Watling that it has addressed the no-warning bug.

The issue illustrates two wider points. Firstly, the mobile eco-system has become very complex so that assigning responsibility in cases of user complaints, especially in similar problem occur on a wider scale, has become much less simple. Secondly, despite Apple's fabled control, the unexpected can still happen with smartphone application. ®

http://www.raredirectmedia.co.uk/

Domain name:
raredirectmedia.co.uk

Registrant:
Top Gear Media

Registrant type:
UK Individual

Registrant's address:
15 Blagden Lane
Newsome
Huddersfield
HD4 6JZ
United Kingdom

Registrar:
Heart Internet Ltd t/a Heart Internet [Tag = HEARTINTERNET]
URL: http://www.heartinternet.co.uk

Relevant dates:
Registered on: 16-Dec-2009
Renewal date: 16-Dec-2011
Last updated: 16-Dec-2009

Company Name:
RARE DIRECT MEDIA LIMITED

Company No: 04820264
Registered Office:
Incorporated: 03/07/2003
15 BLAGDEN LANE
HUDDERSFIELD
WEST YORKSHIRE HD4 6JZ
HD4 6JZ

Company Type: Private Limited
Legal Status: Striking off Notice
Report Status: Full Data
Accounts Type: Unknown
Latest Accounts to: 31/07/2008
Latest Return to: 03/07/2009

16/12/2009
DISS40 (DISS40(SOAD))

DISS40: Notice of striking-off action discontinued

all very odd

""The Service Providers responsible for these numbers under our Code of Practice are Think Telecom Solutions Ltd and Rare Direct Media Limited."

yes but
who allowed the numbers into the 'advert'?
who allowed the advert onto the iPhone?
who are in the revenue chain?

[El Gringo]

http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/09825238975
http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/09825233330
http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/09825230523
http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/09825232537
http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/09825230525
http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/09825230524
http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/09825232415

Core Telecom Limited / Think Telecom Solutions
-----------------------------------------

http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/09074734000
http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/09074734001
http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/09074734003

Freedom Telecom Limited / Rare Direct Media Ltd
-------------------------------------------

Company Name:
RARE DIRECT MEDIA LIMITED

REGISTERED OFFICE CHANGED ON 16/12/2009 FROM MAZHAR HOUSE 48 BRADFORD ROAD STANNINGLEY LEEDS WEST YORKSHIRE LS28 6DF UNITED KINGDOM

15/12/2009
APPOINTMENT TERMINATED, SECRETARY MAHMOOD MAZHAR
--------------------------------------------------

http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/mahmood-mazhar/b/4b4/643
Mahmood Mazhar
CEO, Core Telecom Limited
Leeds, United Kingdom

Owner
Core Telecom Limited
(Telecommunications industry)
Currently holds this position
----------------------------------------------

is it possible that RARE DIRECT MEDIA was hijacked on the 16/12/2009
-----------------------------------------------
off topic

http://www.rothwelltoday.co.uk/news/...-to.5381024.jp
Oulton driver paid woman to lie over speeding
18 June 2009

An "arrogant" businessman from Oulton caught speeding tried to escape penalty points by paying a woman to say she'd been driving.
Mahmood Mazhar, 42, agreed to give cash-strapped Hayley Tyas £250 to claim she was behind the wheel of his Porsche convertible.

He had been snapped by a speed camera on the A65 at Horsforth.

But Leeds Crown Court heard that when the speed camera photographs were studied it was discovered a man was behind the wheel and clearly not Tyas.

Prosecutor Craig Hassall said Mazhar, who runs Horsforth business Core Telecom Ltd, jokingly asked employee Gareth Davies, 27, "I don't suppose you fancy taking these points for me?"

Davies declined but said his sister, Tyas, was short of cash and the plot to lie about the fixed penalty notice was put into action.

Mazhar, who also runs Northern Bar, on Call Lane, Leeds, only had three points on his licence which were about to expire when he came up with the speeding ticket scam last May 8.

Robin Frieze, for Mazhar, of Greenland Farm, Farrer Lane, Oulton, said the incident had been a "wake up call" to address his client's "arrogant attitudes", adding: "In other words, the rulesdon't apply to me because I'm a successful businessman."

Mazhar and Davies, of Blagden Lane, Newsome, Huddersfield, both admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The Recorder of Leeds Judge Peter Collier handed both men 16 week jail sentences suspended for 12 months.

Both must do 200 hours unpaid work and pay £320 prosecution costs.
Mazhar was fined £5,000 and Davies £1,000.

In March, Tyas, who has since emigrated to Canada, was handed a 16 week prison sentence suspended for 12 weeks.

[El Gringo]

Mahmood Mazhar
CEO, Core Telecom Limited
Leeds, United Kingdom

Company Name:
CORE TELECOM LIMITED

Company No: 05332008
Registered Office:
Incorporated: 13/01/2005
MAZHAR HOUSE 48 BRADFORD ROAD
STANNINGLEY
LEEDS
WEST YORKSHIRE
LS28 6DD

Company Type: Private Limited
Report Status: Full Data
Accounts Type: Unknown
Latest Accounts to: 31/01/2008
Latest Return to: 13/01/2009

REGISTERED OFFICE CHANGED ON 17/12/2009 FROM TITAN HOUSE STATION ROAD HORSFORTH LEEDS LS18 5PA

24/04/2009
APPOINTMENT TERMINATED SECRETARY PAUL TURNER

Company Name:
FREEDOM TELECOM LIMITED

Company No: 06799683
Registered Office:
Incorporated: 23/01/2009
FIRST FLOOR TITAN HOUSE
STATION ROAD
HORSFORTH
LEEDS
LS18 5PA

31/01/2009
DIRECTOR AND SECRETARY APPOINTED PAUL MICHAEL TURNER

Company Name:
RARE DIRECT MEDIA LIMITED

REGISTERED OFFICE CHANGED ON 16/12/2009 FROM MAZHAR HOUSE 48 BRADFORD ROAD STANNINGLEY LEEDS WEST YORKSHIRE LS28 6DF UNITED KINGDOM

REGISTERED OFFICE CHANGED ON 16/12/2009 FROM TITAN HOUSE STATION ROAD HORSFORTH LEEDS WEST YORKSHIRE LS18 5PA

15/12/2009
APPOINTMENT TERMINATED, SECRETARY MAHMOOD MAZHAR
APPOINTMENT TERMINATED, DIRECTOR PAUL TURNER

?

[El Gringo]

so the two revenue chains

Core Telecom Limited / Think Telecom Solutions
Freedom Telecom Limited (Core Telecom?) / Rare Direct Media Ltd(Core Telecom?)

http://www.raredirectmedia.co.uk/

Domain name:
raredirectmedia.co.uk

Registrant:
Top Gear Media

Registrant type:
UK Individual

Registrant's address:
15 Blagden Lane
Newsome
Huddersfield
HD4 6JZ
United Kingdom

Registrar:
Heart Internet Ltd t/a Heart Internet [Tag = HEARTINTERNET]
URL: http://www.heartinternet.co.uk

Relevant dates:
Registered on: 16-Dec-2009
Renewal date: 16-Dec-2011
Last updated: 16-Dec-2009

Company Name:
RARE DIRECT MEDIA LIMITED

Company No: 04820264
Registered Office:
Incorporated: 03/07/2003
15 BLAGDEN LANE
HUDDERSFIELD
WEST YORKSHIRE HD4 6JZ
HD4 6JZ

Company Type: Private Limited
Legal Status: Striking off Notice
Report Status: Full Data
Accounts Type: Unknown
Latest Accounts to: 31/07/2008
Latest Return to: 03/07/2009

REGISTERED OFFICE CHANGED ON 16/12/2009 FROM MAZHAR HOUSE 48 BRADFORD ROAD STANNINGLEY LEEDS WEST YORKSHIRE LS28 6DF UNITED KINGDOM

REGISTERED OFFICE CHANGED ON 16/12/2009 FROM TITAN HOUSE STATION ROAD HORSFORTH LEEDS WEST YORKSHIRE LS18 5PA

http://www.topgearmedia.co.uk/

Company Name:
TOP GEAR MEDIA LTD

Company No: 06343440
Registered Office:
Incorporated: 15/08/2007
15 BLAGDEN LANE, NEWSOME
HUDDERSFIELD
WEST YORKSHIRE
HD4 6JZ

Company Type: Private Limited
Legal Status: Company Dissolved
Report Status: Full Dissolved
Accounts Type: Unknown
Latest Accounts to: ?
Latest Return to: 15/08/2008

STRUCK OFF AND DISSOLVED 29/12/2009

http://www.raredirectmedia.co.uk/

Domain name:
raredirectmedia.co.uk

Registrant:
Top Gear Media

Registrant type:
UK Individual

Registrant's address:
15 Blagden Lane
Newsome
Huddersfield
HD4 6JZ
United Kingdom

Registrar:
Heart Internet Ltd t/a Heart Internet [Tag = HEARTINTERNET]
URL: http://www.heartinternet.co.uk

Relevant dates:
Registered on: 16-Dec-2009
Renewal date: 16-Dec-2011
Last updated: 16-Dec-2009

Company Name:
08DIRECT LIMITED

Company No: 06428331
Registered Office:
Incorporated: 15/11/2007
MAZHAR HOUSE 48 BRADFORD ROAD
STANNINGLEY
LEEDS
WEST YORKSHIRE
LS28 6DD

Company Type: Private Limited
Report Status: Full Data
Accounts Type: Dormant
Latest Accounts to: 30/11/2008
Latest Return to: 15/11/2008

22/05/2008
APPOINTMENT TERMINATE, DIRECTOR GARETH LEE DAVIES LOGGED FORM

Available Reports Details
Director/Secretary Name:
GARETH LEE DAVIES

Report Status: Current/Previous/Dissolved

Public Address
HUDDERSFIELD
WEST YORKSHIRE
HD4 6

'Prosecutor Craig Hassall said Mazhar, who runs Horsforth business Core Telecom Ltd, jokingly asked employee Gareth Davies, 27, "I don't suppose you fancy taking these points for me?"'