Text Message Spam Could Cost You
For most people, spam is just annoying, but if you don't have text messaging included in your cell phone plan, you could be charged for text message spam if you're not careful.
Bill Bacon runs an ambulance company in Jeffersonville.
His business depends on cell phones.
"Starting a week ago Saturday, I received a first message on my phone to buy Viagra," Bacon said.
It turns out that all of Bacon's business phones were getting text message ads to the tune of 15 cents each.
"I have 15 phones here. All 15 were receiving messages from various places," Bacon said.
Bacon called his provider, Sprint Nextel, which canceled the charges.
Sprint Nextel told NBC 10, that, "The issue is similar to what an Internet provider faces. It's not always possible to block all of it."
Sprint Nextel went on to say, "Our customer policy is to give credit to any customer that reports these messages and we welcome them to do this."
Still, Bacon is concerned for other cell phone users who may be receiving spam and not realize they could be charged if texting is not included in their plan.
"Unlike spam on your computer which is annoying you hit delete and it's gone, every time you get it here, whether to delete it or not, it's 15 cents. It does add up. You have 10 phones obviously and one a day it starts to add up," Bacon said.
Bill Bacon runs an ambulance company in Jeffersonville.
His business depends on cell phones.
"Starting a week ago Saturday, I received a first message on my phone to buy Viagra," Bacon said.
It turns out that all of Bacon's business phones were getting text message ads to the tune of 15 cents each.
"I have 15 phones here. All 15 were receiving messages from various places," Bacon said.
Bacon called his provider, Sprint Nextel, which canceled the charges.
Sprint Nextel told NBC 10, that, "The issue is similar to what an Internet provider faces. It's not always possible to block all of it."
Sprint Nextel went on to say, "Our customer policy is to give credit to any customer that reports these messages and we welcome them to do this."
Still, Bacon is concerned for other cell phone users who may be receiving spam and not realize they could be charged if texting is not included in their plan.
"Unlike spam on your computer which is annoying you hit delete and it's gone, every time you get it here, whether to delete it or not, it's 15 cents. It does add up. You have 10 phones obviously and one a day it starts to add up," Bacon said.
