(Update) Possible SMS SCAM: UOB offers Nexus One as credit card promo?

The SMS we received from 66300 reads:
Priviledged offer, Google Nexus Phone for only RM215.67/mth on UOB 12 mths 0% IPP. Valid till 30 April 2010. T&C apply. For details call 0323003388.

another variation read:
SMS promo: Google Nexus Phone for only RM215.67/mth on UOB 12 mths 0% IPP details call 0323003388

There’s a thread on LowYat.Net forums about this offer as well.

When we first saw this we thought – “this can’t be true”.

A quick call to UOB customer service 03 2612 8121 revealed that our suspicion was warranted.

The SMS is not true and don’t be fooled. You could end up with a very hefty credit card bill rather than a Nexus One.

What we know…
UOB does regularly offer interest free purchases of home appliances, digital cameras as well as mobile phones for their credit card holders. These offers are advertised on the UOB InStore gateway but there never was a Nexus One promo.

Another red flag is the fact that the SMS requested that interested customers call a different customer service number to the one listed on UOB’s official site HERE.

In addition, there was never an official announcement from Google or HTC that the Nexus One will be available in Malaysia soon. If there was such an announcement, we’d bet our lucious asses that there will be a lot of buzz in the press about it. To date, there is nada.

Everyone knows that the Nexus One is sold directly via Google online, so why would Google change their model in Malaysia? In fact, in Singapore the Nexus One is purchased directly online.

Also, we’ve been trying to contact the 03 2300 3388 stated on the SMS but the number is not reachable.

What we think…
This could very well be a SCAM where it is very likely that when the customer calls the bogus number to purchase the Nexus One offered, he will be requested to reveal his credit card number and other sensitive details.

The customer will then be informed that the phone will be delivered in a few days and it doesn’t come. A month down the line, he realises that his credit card stament has unauthorised purchases.

This is a very likely scenario and scammers are getting very creative nowadays. We caution you be very, very, very careful. The adage, “if it’s too good to be true it probably is”, still rings true.

(Update 1553hrs 10 April 2010) Based on a reader’s comment claiming that he had receive a reply from UOB customer service via email saying that the Nexus One credit card promotion is indeed true, we send an email ourselves to the following address UOB121@uob.com.my as stated in UOBs website HERE.

The reply we got was that the offer is legit and runs from 2 to 30 April. We asked why isn’t the offer highlighted on the UOB InStore page and why isn’t the frontline aware of such an offer.

We we’re told “the promotion is targeted to selected cardmembers only, hence, it is not featured in our UOB In Store program“.

Regardless, UOB should have been clearer on the offer on their website and also with their frontline staff so that there are absolutely no confusions.