Harassment on cell phone is a neglected issue. No one either, from the user or the mobile company is paying any serious attention to it. The crime has increased. Users from different parts of the city have reported a variety of patterns.
Earlier it was limited within indecent SMSs inviting to visit restricted websites that are already listed to be denied access by some of the internet service providers.
A kind of social nuisance is miss calls from unknown numbers. First, there will be repeated miss calls for few days. Then the caller from unknown number accuses the subscriber for calling him, bothers the user by arguments and insult. One can expect these obnoxious calls at any hour of the day, which is quite embarrassing and unpleasant as well.
However, this is not the end. The nuisance over mobile phone continues to torment innocent users by these dishonest unsocial networks that send indecent SMSs, sometimes followed by religious quotes.
Another formula frequently encountered by people is quite cinematic where caller from unidentified mobile introduces himself as a customer relation officer of a reputed mobile phone company, informs that they have selected the number for a one or five-lakh rupee cash prize, and tries to know the home address. The mobile company customer care informed the "Business Recorder", that an organised crime is networking in the city. First, they will inform about lucrative prize money then they will request to charge a card in their mobile account and more danger await if they come to know the home address. The offer is so alluring that one can easily fall prey to this crime network. Once again, an offer aimed to charm the users towards increasing their SIM balances.
While contacted Jibran Tahir, customer relation officer available on 304 and 404, The Paktel, a pioneer in mobile business in Pakistan informed that the company has no balance transfer scheme. Therefore, has nothing to do with this kind of complaints. However, if harassed otherwise, the Paktel will entertain a written complaint by the user along with a copy of NIC and will block the undesired number from further use. Umer Farooq, helpline support officer, U-fone, commented that obnoxious calls and unwanted SMS are nothing new. He however, accepted that customers are going through mental trauma through lewd messages. Usually clients are not interested in making any complaints and incase, the stressed-user comes into the open intending to submit a complaint within 48 hours, the only solution company offers, to warn the culprit first, and then cease his connection. Surprisingly, the organisation has no policy to punish the offender unless the user provides a copy of the FIR lodged with law enforcing agency.
Najm-us-Sahar, customer care person the Mobilink, also informed that the Mobilink clients could register complaint only with the person on duty to deal with the customer who forwards it to concerned person. Anyhow, Sahar refused to mention exact name, designation or department responsible to tackle the situation.
A Telenor representative, Quratul Ain, revealed some interesting facts and elaborately spoke about the ongoing nuisance that users are facing currently. Ain confirmed about the ongoing cellular pestering and maintained that the company is taking the matter seriously. She lamented that some professional criminals are involved in this crime network. A large number of SIMs are in their use. The group is well organised and the Telenor is making all efforts to stop it taking place further. Initially, the company warns the offender, and then blocks the SIM.
Quratul Ain also informed that police have arrested few persons allegedly involved in crime of threatening through SMSs. However, through this inquiry, none of the mobile company agreed to bear the responsibility of punishing criminal except to refer them to the police.
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