Explosion in SMS spam

Korean cell phone users suffer onslaught of spam

Korean cell phone users are being blasted with SMS spam, with 870,000 cases reported to the Korea Information Security Agency (KISA) and Korea's three mobile communication companies last year.

A recent survey conducted by online research firm Embrain revealed that 95.8 per cent of Korean cell phone users have received advertisements on their handsets, and 41.8 per cent of respondents reported that they receive spam messages once or twice a week.

In an attempt to crack down on spammers, a new law will take effect in Korea from April, banning the transmission of advertisement SMS messages without prior consent. Under the new law, anyone sending spam without having obtained the necessary consent will be fined up to 30 million Korean Won (equivalent to approximately $28,900).

Korean cell phone users may be encouraged to know that in March 2004 Australia's Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman reported that its code of conduct aimed at preventing SMS spam had been highly effective.

17 January 2005

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