Strange text message charges on my bill

[cam1210]

This month, I received my bill and have some strange text message charges on it. I'm wondering if anyone can shed any light on what is going on?

I placed an order from a genuine online shop (small business that sells wallets). Order updates came by text message...I received three in total..28/11, 30/11 and 7 Dec. Obviously, being order updates, I had no reason and did not reply to these texts. The only odd thing is the company is UK and the texts originated from an international number (USA)...+1 323 209 1117 but all the order details and tracking numbers were genuine, so it was a genuine text.

I receive my bill today and find I've been charged for 5 text messages sent to this number from my phone. These are international SMS so each one is 65p. I obviously sent no such texts and my iPhone shows only those three received messages. Vodafone customer services insist these are genuine outgoing texts from my SMS number.

Anyone know what has gone on? I'd immdiately suspect malware or a scam but I can't work out how it has happened and why it would happen because nobody has earnt anything from this as they are just international SMS charges straight to vodafone!

[BandOfBrothers]

The business maybe based abroad but distributes from the UK @cam1210 

Do let the Vodafone Social Media Team's via Contact-us-for-account-specific-queries take another look at this for you.

And maybe have a look over the Faqs and T&C's of the site you've accessed to buy the wallets from.

[AnnS]

Hi @cam1210 

I wouldn't be surprised if these messages were reverse charged, you received 3 and were charged for 2 extra reverse charged messages.

Vodafone billing is usually accurate with all calls, texts and data logged against the IMEI number of the phone and there is no reason for the charges to be incorrect.

The site you ordered from should be able to clarify the reason for the reverse charged messages.

To prevent this happening again, through your online account and Application there are bars Vodafone can add to your account, there should be a bar for international text messages and charge to account incoming.