Of late, there have been a number of prize winning schemes being offered by various cellular companies. These are completely bogus and misleading to cash/prize seeking public. In the beginning, their marketing teams used to send some Hadith or a few verses from holy book or some good quotes to be passed on to at least 10 friends to receive a good news within a week. By doing so, millions of messages were sent all around the country thereby generating revenue for their company. Now they have started another scheme in which, they offer cars, bikes and cash by answering very simple questions. The process of questions and answers continues for hours and every time the cell company assures their prey that he/she is very near to win.
Warid has come up with yet another novel way to trap their clients. I received a call last night that in Warid balloting of numbers, my number had won Rs 500,000 and for details I should ring up so and so number. I rang up that number, it was picked up by Warid operator who congratulated me for winning the prize and then asked my ID card number, parentage and my home address. Then he gave me some code numbers to be given to their official who would bring the prize money to my house next morning. Then he asked me to have a talk with their supervisor who was supposed to get my bank account number etc for preparing the draft or pay order. By then I understood their game, as I had already talked to the Warid number for over 15 minutes. I told the man that they got the address and other particulars which was enough to receive the prize money. On this he told me unless I talked to supervisor, I would not get the prize.
I would request the PTA to take notice of these gimmicks by the cell companies who want to generate the revenue by such dirty tricks. Besides wasting time of the subscribers, they indulge in cheating. They must be taken to task immediately. These cellular companies also sell the in use personal numbers to various organizations for marketing purposes which is unethical thing to do.
MUHAMMAD AZHAR KHWAJA
Lahore
