Hoax text messages

24 February 2011 09:36 am

The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) today cautioned people to not be deceived by welfare related hoax text messages sent by anonymous sources which claim that if the receiver forwards the text message to a certain number of persons, the service provider would contribute a certain amount towards the cause.

A recent text message doing the rounds said a 9 year old girl, Darkshini, is in a critical state suffering from blood cancer and that her father needs Rs.200 lakhs for the operation. The text message went on to say that all telecommunication providers have agreed to give 10 cents each time the message is passed.

TRC Director General, Anusha Palpita told the Daily Mirror that neither the TRC nor any private telecommunications services provider supports welfare related text messages which claim to donate money to those in need through a contribution by the telecommunication networks.” Text messages of that nature are sent by individuals and not telecommunication providers and people should not be deceived by them,” Palpita said. (Olindhi Jayasundere)