My beef with MTN’s SMS competition
I blew my top a few days ago because MTN keeps spamming me with SMS and MMS messages to advertise a competition they’re running, apparently to celebrate their 15th anniversary.
This is a (more rational) post to clarify just why I’m so pissed off.
Spamming. Gambling. What’s next? Pimping?
First off, MTN is sending spam SMS and MMS messages.
In my books this already puts them right into the same league as other low-life scum companies that use similar advertising techniques. You know, the “how to get a bull-sized penis” and “click here to see them suck your dick” bunch.
They’re spamming me. I didn’t ask for any SMS or MMS notifications about MTN competitions and I certainly don’t want them.
Then my second point. This competition preys on the same human weakness that drives the gambling industry.
Make no mistake, MTN went through a lot of effort to make it look legal.
“This is a game of substantial skill and therefore does not require permission to be sought from the lottery board.”
“We have sought legal advice and we are comfortable that we are not in breach of the lottery regulations.”
But who are we kidding? It’s gambling.
Insert coin (each answer costs R7.50), pull the lever (send your SMS), watch the little wheels spin on the slot-machine (wait in anticipation for a reply), big jackpot making you want to try again and again (a couple of Toyota Fortuners and a million bucks up for grabs).
It’s the very same thing that makes someone gamble away his life savings that made some poor dude spend R15000 in one week on MTN’s SMS competition.
Vodacom had a similar competition last year (the “100 cars in 100 days” debacle). They were heavily criticized over their competition, after several of their customers worked up cell phone bills totaling thousands and even ten thousands of rands.
Vodacom was eventually ordered to stop the competition by the National Lotteries Board, after it was found to be an illegal lottery.
One would think MTN would learn from its competitor’s mistake. Apparently not.
What’s next MTN?
Pimp out whores via MMS? SMS “joint” to 33555 and have one pre-rolled-and-ready-to-light-up delivered to my front door?
