Early yesterday morning, you may have received a text message claiming that you won $5,000. That message was fraudulent, according to LIME Communications Director Kareem-Nelson Hull.
LIME has been running a promotion for the last several weeks where customers are entered into a drawing for $5,000 if they sign up for a new LIME service, pay their bills, or top off their phones at select locations.
In what appears to be a scam playing off that promotion, a message from a number with a Solomon Islands country code was sent to people throughout the territory, including some in the Beacon office.
Telecommunications Regulatory Commission Chief Technology Officer Russell Jones said that the number that sent the text is not active and cannot be called. He added that while the country code is registered to the Solomon Islands, it’s easy for people to change their numbers to make it seem as if they’re from another area.
Mr. Jones told the Beacon that he met with police to discuss the incident, and that it was decided that neither the TRC nor the police would investigate further because there have been no reported victims.
Acting Police Information Officer Carl Mason confirmed this account, adding that there would be little that could be done if someone was scammed and the perpetrator turned out to be from the Solomon Islands.
See the Aug. 28, 2014 edition for full coverage.
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