Megafon subscribers often complain about the presence of intrusive advertising of mobile products from the television system. Moreover, this is not the only thing that irritates users. The fact is that if you are not careful, you can inadvertently click on an unknown link, call back a paid number, or by answering an SMS message, accidentally connect to some paid service. In addition, it is no secret that now there are many scammers who, under the guise of advertising brochures, can take over subscriber funds. However, this problem can be easily solved by activating Megafon on the number.
Alternative - opening a content account
Interestingly, there is an alternative way to get rid of paid mobile subscriptions. The Megafon company offers clients the opening of a content account. Its creation means that the operator will stop debiting money for using paid subscriptions from the subscriber’s main number.
Thus, even if you accidentally connected unwanted subscriptions that “write off” funds, the fee for its use will be charged to an additional account. Accordingly, if the additional account maintains a zero balance, the subscription will not be able to be activated.
The disadvantages of this method include the connection method. An additional account is opened only after the client personally contacts the mobile operator’s office. Well, the advantages include reliable and effective protection against fraudsters. Although this is not such a “portable” method of protection, since the connection is carried out with the help of specialists in the company’s office, it is more reliable and effective. However, for the greatest protection, it is recommended to use both methods simultaneously.
Why do they write off money?
After a subscriber manages to detect a “leakage” of money from an account marked “Charge for content,” he has a completely logical question about why the subscription was activated if he did not give his consent to connect such services. The situation is very controversial and occurs quite often. Complaints and angry reviews about unauthorized debiting of money for content can be found on thematic forums and communities on various social networks. Many people believe that the mobile operator Megafon automatically directs its customers to the resources of content providers. And in the event of a call to the technical support service, employees blame the inattention of the subscribers themselves.
If we consider this situation from the point of view of benefits for the mobile operator, Megafon is really interested in having a huge network of websites with a paid subscription. As practice shows, most clients, by the time the “leakage” of money from the account becomes obvious, manage to lose from two to three hundred rubles. A popular opinion is also confirmed by the fact that it is not difficult for Megafon to block such resources, but the mobile operator is in no hurry to crack down on content providers. The only steps taken by Megafon towards its customers are to provide a full list of paid sites.
The technical support service reports that situations with “Charge for content” are most often observed in the following cases:
- The subscriber, in search of entertainment content, goes to the resource and personally activates the paid subscription.
- The subscriber unintentionally clicks on one of the pop-up advertising banners, thus activating the service.
- The account was hacked by attackers who activated a paid subscription.
- The phone is infected with Trojan-type viruses that have performed the steps of connecting to one of the web portals from the content provider category.
As a result, the following situation arises: the operator responds to massive complaints from subscribers only with a request to be extremely attentive while surfing the Internet. According to Megafon's press service, minor subscribers due to their own curiosity and pensioners due to lack of experience are most exposed to this risk.
Peculiarities
The features of the option include the following factors:
- When you block services that require payment for their services, PayPal services, payments on social networks, or the purchase of additional content in the application remain available.
- The service is only valid in your home region. At the same time, you can connect it anywhere in the Russian Federation.
- Connection via request may not work in some regions of the Russian Federation. In this case, you can use the subscriber’s personal account.
- The service is free and applies to any tariff plan.
How to disable
If you find charges marked “Charges for content,” you should go to your personal account and manually block access to entertainment content in the “Options and Services” section.
You can disable charges using a special one that prohibits the activation procedure from short mobile numbers. In order to enable this service, you need to use the USSD request *526# call key. There is an alternative option to unsubscribe from the option using the command *105*801# call key. You can send a blank SMS message to the number 0500914. Owners of Megafon corporate numbers may find that the methods described above will not lead to positive results. In this case, you need to contact the mobile operator’s support service with a request to limit access to content providers.
Conclusions. Is it worth connecting “Stop Content”?
To summarize, it is worth saying that “Stop Content” provided by the cellular operator Megafon is an effective and reliable tool for protection against fraudulent activities and accidental activation of a paid subscription. “Stop Content” is advisable if the phone will be used by a child or elderly people. Often it is these subscriber criteria that are most susceptible to connecting paid subscriptions.
However, it is worth remembering that no protection system is perfect. The option may malfunction, and from time to time, paid subscriptions may appear in the list of connected services. To prevent withdrawal of funds, it is best to use both methods of protection: “Stop Content” and opening a content account. At the same time, experts recommend regular monitoring of the list of connected services. This operation is carried out either through your personal account, or with the help of a cellular company employee in the office.
By following the above recommendations, the user can be sure that his mobile phone is protected from accidental connection of subscriptions that require debiting funds for their services. In addition, the service is perfect for activation on phones that will be used by elderly people and children. They are the most vulnerable category of subscribers before connecting paid subscriptions.
Helpful 1
What it is?
Charges for content involve payment for subscriptions to various services, access to web portals and entertainment websites. If the user has given his consent to subscribe to one or more such resources, a certain amount will be deducted from his mobile account every day. By “content provider” we mean an organization that owns simple sites with video jokes, anecdotes, pictures or films. Despite the simplicity of such resources, the cost of the service for the content presented on them ranges from 25 to 45 rubles per day.
Service cost
Almost all mobile services, whether content subscriptions or additional service packages, come with a cost. For many Russian cellular providers, such a blocking service involves depositing from 1 to 5 rubles per day into the television system account. In contrast, the option to ban paid content short numbers on Megafon is provided to all network clients free of charge.
Sources:
- https://HelpsHub.ru/nachisleniya-za-kontent-v-megafone/
- https://megafonum.ru/usluga-megafon-stop-kontent
- https://telefon.guide/mega/uslugi-megafon/kontent-uslugi
- https://protarify.ru/megafon/stop-kontent-megafon.html
In what ways can you connect content?
There are several options to help connect content:
- SMS to a short number;
- USSD request;
- Voice call to a paid number;
- Subscribe from the site.
Everyone has encountered the first options. A message comes to your phone from a short number asking you to play a game, win a million, or receive a melody or picture. There are also less popular ways: offers to get acquainted or to view a compromising photo. All you have to do is send a reply SMS, debits will begin, and the number of messages sent to your phone will increase. First of all, you need to be more careful. Do not send any SMS to short numbers . Nobody will give you a million.
If you are interested in the offer, but you don’t know how much it costs, then you can check the cost on the operator’s website https://moscow.megafon.ru/options/services/other/content/uslugi_operatora_s_kontent-prova/. You can also complain about the activities of scammers there. Illegal activities will be stopped and the number will be removed from circulation. A fine will be imposed on the service provider itself.
The last option is more insidious. Content services are hidden on websites. This may be a fee for using a resource, more often for watching a video. Just click on play, and the money is already debited every day. According to the latest amendments to the Communications Law, the service provider is required to warn about the cost. He warns: in gray letters on a black background in small font at the bottom of the screen. There are also those who send SMS. In this case, modem users suffer more. They often simply don't notice the alert. Here you need to understand that a serious site that values its reputation will not do this. The more dubious the resource and the lower the quality of the video, the more likely it is to get a subscription .
Clicking on banners is also a bad idea. Often this leads to a transition to the site, where a subscription to the content is issued. Such banners look like small flashing advertisements with information that you have received a message or other similar information.
Currently, content providers are required to charge only with the explicit consent of the subscriber. In this regard, you may receive SMS with codes to confirm payment. If you receive this, do not enter it anywhere and do not tell others. This is also a common type of deception that thrives on social networks. Its essence is that a scammer gains your trust and then asks you to dictate a code from an SMS. After that, he buys virtual currency, paying for it with money from your account.
Checking for subscriptions
If you still haven’t saved yourself and the money disappears from your account, then the first thing you need to do is check the availability of connected content services.
Do not trust online information that offers verification using a USSD command or similar methods. At the moment this is not relevant. The only way to check is through your personal account. First of all, you can order details there, where you can see what you are paying for. Secondly, in the services section you can see everything that is connected. There you can remove everything unnecessary. As an option, call the call center at 0500. This will be justified if you don’t have the Internet at hand.
Detailed description
Using this option allows customers to block the ability to make calls, send messages or requests to paid short numbers. This function allows you to save funds on your mobile account and protect yourself and your family from unnecessary expenses. MegaFon subscribers can use the service regardless of the tariff plan used. The only important thing is that the service applies to use on a home network. Outside of this area the service will not work.
Access to short numbers provided by the operator is not blocked. This way, customers will be able to continue calling and sending messages and requests to service numbers.
The option is provided free of charge, which undoubtedly can be considered an advantage. There are no activation fees and no subscription fees.
It is worth noting some features inherent in the service:
- The option does not work outside the home network and in roaming, both national and international.
- Subscribers who need paid content can find out its cost using a special price list. You can find it on the MegaFon website.
The best music service from MegaFon is Trava-Online!
Content providers – who are they?
Many have encountered large debits from their phone account, although no calls were made anywhere. The operator said that the money went to content providers. Many people heard this definition for the first time from an operator.
Content providers are a company or individual that is the copyright holder of any content, for example, media elements (pictures, photographs, sound recordings, ringtones, video streams and video recordings). He sells his content or the rights to use it to cellular subscribers independently, or through an operator, aggregator or service provider.
Simply put, this is the one who sells (or imposes) music, pictures and games on you.
The scheme of work is as follows: a large content provider (aggregator) rents short numbers from the operator, then distributes them to smaller content providers through affiliate programs. They, in turn, provide services. Everyone in this chain receives their own reward. This is beneficial for everyone, so there was little control until recently. Operators, by covering up scammers, incurred the wrath of the public and lost subscribers.
At the legislative level, such activities are regulated by the Communications Law. Since May 2014, it has introduced additions regarding content services. Users must be informed about the cost of services before writing off and give their consent to this. True, there are loopholes here too.
