MTN Ghana, stop the spamming!

MTN Ghana is annoying a lot of their subscribers with the persistent text messages from 2010, yours truly included. All a subscriber has to do is text “Go” to the number 2010 and he/she is then burdened with the misfortune of being bombarded with text messages morning, afternoon and evening entreating him/her to keep texting to improve chances of winning. Note that each text to the premium phone number costs 50 Ghana Pesewas (about 33 US Cents).

MTN Text "Go" to 2010 promo image
MTN Text "Go" to 2010 promo image

This is part of a current promotion by MTN Ghana where they are offering several prices including: 4×4 Kia Sorento cars, FIFA VIP packages, DSTV mobile service enabled handsets, 3.5G MTN modems, free airtime vouchers, GHc 3,000 daily prices among others.

Aside complaints from friends, I have seen other complaints online with through a Facebook group and another blog post.

Some of the text messages from 2010 read:

MTN: Tonight is SUPERPLAY time. Win TRIPLE reward points by replying to this message anytime between 5pm and 6pm. You’ve earned it! Text in TRIPLE to 2010 now

MTN: Good news DAVID, it’s Happy Hour. Reply DOUBLE to this message anytime between 10am and 11am today and we’ll give you double reward points.

MTN: DAVID, ONE PRIZE TONIGHT, for one winner. 3,000 GHC. Be the one. Reply ONE.

When I stopped replying since I wasn’t winning, 😉 one of the messages I received today read:

MTN: You stopped playing. We’re sad. Your old score’s on hold. Add 100 new chances to win every time you reply RETURN. Many prizes left. Reply RETURN

It is bad enough that the messages entreating one to blow one’s money are so aggressive but receiving so many of them every day borders on harassment, and by extension, spamming. Where are the regulators when you need them?

Do you have similar concerns? Share them here and now, in the comments section.

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Oluniyi D. Ajao
Oluniyi D. Ajao is an Internet Entrepreneur and Tech Enthusiast based in South Africa. Follow him on twitter @niyyie for more tech updates.

17 Comments

  1. This is another of the nonsense that abounds.

    they must just have some way of allowing people to decide whether they want such ‘spams’ or adverts or not.

    just nonsense!

    but they are not the only ones. i’ve used Tigo and they were doing same. don’t know about now though.

  2. Oluniyi,

    So, the promo train has arrived Ghana too! Good for you guys! 😀

    Novisi,

    By texting Text “Go” to 2010, a subscriber signs up for the promo, and consequently the prodding. What they need to implement, actually, is a way to say “I’m opting out”.

  3. wel there are some guys called gaming commission you may want to fish them out and forward this harassment u are being subjected to to them. :-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):)

  4. It can sometimes get so annoying to the extent you are expecting a very important message only to see these text messages. Seriously, I miss text messages because of this. You are right, this is the time the NCA should be saving u, but, no…

  5. The more important issue is how MTN Ghana managed to get hold of the time machine? The messages are coming from 2010 so perhaps someone should ask them for the lottery numbers for next week.

    Now that would be a winner!

  6. Hi dave, can you please help me out with how to download flash player for my samsung x820 ? I have tried several times but was not successful. is it compatible with mobilephones, and samsung x820 in particular. thanks

  7. Hi,david why is mtn wap not working since friday.i cant access internet om my phone and this is really worry me.all my friends r also complaining the same.even mtn free hompage aint working.

  8. i have answer many question and text back to MTN 2010 still i had not win anything.this lottery please tell me Is it real.

  9. Hmmm, i think someone has sue MTN Ghana for automatically subscribing for a service i hate in my life. at my age and work schedule MTN is compelling me everyday to download games to play. they started with Gamesloft. I called their office and managed to block that. They have metamorphosed to Gamesclub which I am currently battling. The annoying thing when the message pops up nothing can be done on the phone and the message cannot be closed as well. I am consulting a lawyer to advise on the next step.

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