Looks like we have another scam going around targeting buyers of cell phone monitoring software.
According to a recent report by Symantec, there is a product called SMS Privato Spy that is marketed as allowing you to view the target’s phone screen (live), activate and listen on the microphone, view call logs, and perform GPS tracking at all times. But wait, there is more!
The one big feature SMS Privato Spy advertises, one that NOBODY is offering is… remote installation. SMS Privato Spy says that to install their software, you simply send a text message to the phone you want to monitor. Sounds impressive right?
Well too bad it’s all a scam.
See the trick to these spy phone scams, is to offer features that they know people want, but are not available on the market. There was a product out in 2009 called MMS Interceptor which offered the same thing. However, their angle was to get people to install their software on their own phone, claiming it would magically enable you to spy on any other target phone. The problem is once people installed the software on their own phone, all the user’s sensitive data would be sent back to the people behind MMS Interceptor. I’m sure you can imagine what happened after that.
Going back to SMS Privato Spy, this one actually looks a lot more legit because they have an actual website that looks on par with any of the other established spy phone vendors. You have an FAQ, Features list, info on how to order, support, and more. So what happens when you decide to take out your credit card to purchase this product?
According to the Symantec warning, “If a person follows the instructions on the website, they will obtain a voucher pin code from an online payment site for the payment amount. Once they use this payment pin code to register and purchase the product on the site, they are presented with the message below telling them that their order is being processed.”
And that’s the last information they are given – they will NOT be contacted (as promised) within 24 hours.
You my friend, have just been scammed!
SPG
PS> If you suspect a product is a scam and/or were actually cheated out of money from a company that pretended to sell cell phone monitoring software, leave a comment below and I’ll do a write up and warn others.
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DISCLAIMER: Cell phone monitoring software is designed for monitoring your children or employees on a smartphone you own or have proper consent to monitor (in compliance with applicable laws), and you must inform anyone who uses a device upon which the software is installed that their activity may be monitored. You should NEVER attempt to spy on a cell phone you don’t own, monitor your spouse, significant other or adult children with any cell phone monitoring product without the consent and knowledge of such persons. Doing so may be illegal, and violate local, state, and federal laws in your country and you could be subject to civil or criminal penalties. We will cooperate with authorities in investigation of any allegations of misuse. If you are uncertain of your rights to monitor the usage of a cellular device, you should consult legal counsel BEFORE purchasing.
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dear sir,
i would like to know that, how we will install it on target phone and , target phone has engadge with gprs or 3g or it dosent need any internet on target phone,
thanks and regards
Cell detective from ez-csi… Is it real or a scam? Says you dont have to install it on the target phone.
Hi.
I bought PHONETAIL spy software for one of my mobile phones. They say that it works for Nokia symbian too. Not true. My Nokia N8 freezed constantly and only after uninstalling of Phonetail software started to work normally again. The support center said that they have problems with Nokia but with Android everything will be ok. I have a HTC Legend android phone and installed Phonetail software there for testing. Many features worked normally but recording of surrounding did not. I especially bought Phonetail because they promise that recording of surrounding is one of their features. In support center they promised to fix everything…but only promises..nothing happened. I cancelled my subscription and uninstalled software. After 6 months they debited my credit card again!!!!! I asked support center if there is any active subscriptions, they said that not and they promised to refund my money. But again…only promises and nothing happened. If you buy phonetail SOFTWARE- you will loose money and get a software that dont work as promised!!! I lost 90 eur + 90 eur + received software that never worked as promised.