Cyprus-Forum.com

[Gagman]

This is to warn Cyta mobile phone users,if you still retain the the four digit Pin code: 1234
Just recieved my bill and it appeared a little too much.I checked my mobile phone usage,to find nothing out of the ordinary.I went to pay the bill,but asked for an examination of the total.The kind staff member,asked if I was trying to win a new car?
'Sorry' I asked.
He said,'our records show,that you dialled a contest to win a new car'.
I said,'No,I did not and I have a good car already'.

I then enquired,to which company,I dialled. The Staff member,asked for my identification,which I left at home......
He also said it would take 5 working days to find this out.

To cut the story short.I paid and walked out in a daze.It was hot,so I went home and had a beer,thinking back last year... I remembered my 'So easy' saga.
Last year I paid out 75 Euros on my So easy and my Son's phone.Thinking,'this is really expensive,have they increased charging for all those text messages,we made?'
I went to Cyta and had a investigation done.3 days later,they showed no result and told me to buy another card to top up the account. This lasted 1 day and again,I complained.
9 days later,they asked for my Pin number,by suggesting,if I have been using the basic 1234?
Yes I was, and they suggested to change this.
Since then,I have had no problems.They did not wish to go into conversation about this situation.
I found out later that there is a scam,which usues credit from mobile phones with 1234 Pin number. I failed to change my permanent Mobile phone and have been 'suckered once again'.
My advice to you....... change your Pin number,before you payout hefty cash!

[Sotos]

Never heard of such scam before. Are you sure there is such thing? Or maybe the reason they asked you if you were using the default PIN number is because they suspected that somebody from your family was using the phone to make calls and send messages to contests and such kind of things?

[nick dimitri]

Gagman, to give the benefit of the doubt you have to wait and see whether other people come forward and complain the same. Simple as that.

[Gagman]

Thanks for the response.And yes,we have double checked, and Cyta did confirm that 'it may have been made from another mobile phone'.
They also were amazed at the way,their system could be manipulated.
The answer was for us to change our PIN number.
Think for a moment,when bank cards were the 'perfect answer to buy without carrying cash'. It didn't take long for crooks to access our precious hard earned money,was it?

I do know of a couple who top up their 'so easy' and discovered that it has to be topped up within a few days.I asked about thier PIN number and it was 1234.They changed to a year of birth and now have to top it up less.

It may not be realized that this 'scam' is in evidence,until you observe the phone bill,being a sum out of the ordinary.
I assure you,that I am an honest person,and would not write this,if it was otherwise.

[Sotos]

I didn't say you are not honest! I am just not sure how would this scam work. If you have a monthly kind of account then you can get a detailed bill which shows when and where you called and how much you were charged for each call. If you have "so easy" then after each phone call you should get an SMS telling you how much you were charged.

[Gagman]

Thank you for your reply Sotos.Yesterday,on the net,I leraned that you do not need your own phone to dial.A system exists,where the culprits can be in another country and use your phone number and pin number,and have it billed to your supplier.
A Friend has told me that his billing was correct,but after an anonymous call from India,which could not be traced later,he found that someone had tampered with the system. No communication system is secure.Think of the most impossible situation and will occur.
Did you know that a lot of photo copiers have a hard drive attached to them?
Yes,the hard drive can be removed in a matter of a few minutes and attached to a computer.All the copy imformation is them available.Many leased photo copy machines move about to different countries and very sensitive information is taken out of the counrty of origin.
I have proof for this one,and if I can get the Mobile phone saga,I will be most happy to supply this.
The fact of my message was to warn people to change their PIN number from 1234.

[nick dimitri]

Gagman, Well done, not only you've proofed that you're honest, but you have also showed that you have the determination to get to the bone of this matter which will be for the good of all the people and for Cyta themselves. Well done buddy.

[Gagman]

Thank you Mr Dimitri,
I'm known as Gagman for a reason.I up hold truth and offer the facts to readers to be aware of the situations which exist on this Island.I will not be silenced. i.e the term Gag (something put around the mouth to muffle speech and sound).
Efkaristo Fillos