British watchdog fines spamster £450,000

IN A DESPERATE attempt to show that it can exercise real power, UK regulatory body, ICSTIS, has managed to fine six companies for a text message scam.

Recipients received a text message (SMS) informing them that they'd won either £1,000 or £2,000. However, when you tried to redeem your 'prize', it turned out to be a flight or holiday voucher which was worse than useless. Calling the company in order to 'claim' your prize ended up costing £1.50 per minute.

Naturally the six companies operating this scam turned out to be abroad, so it will be interesting to see if they pay the fines, totally £450,000. What the regulator should really be doing is fining Smile Telecom, which carried the traffic, and let them get the money back from their clients. Robbed of companies willing to deliver these dodgy messages, the shysters couldn't possibly operate in the UK market. µ