The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) has condemned lax management over telecommunication companies as a major factor in the rising number of spam messages reaching unwitting phone users.

Phone users have been advised to be more cautious with phone messages 

According to the MIC, there are 347 communications service providers (CSP) and each of the providers sign contracts with dozens of other content providers (CP).

The inspectorate found out that many CSPs and CPs sent spam message at the speed of 10,000 messages per hour.

"The spam messages are sent at different times and seriously irritate subscribers." Do Quy Doan, deputy minister of MIC said.

Many send messages with links to download games, music or WAP services. These services are often just scams, but phone users are often unaware that they’ve spent the credit before it’s too late.

Doan said most of the messages are about gambling, fortune tellers, illegal websites or gift delivery services. These services target young students or people in remote areas who are still curious and are unfamiliar with mobile phones.

The swindlers even include consultant numbers in the spam messages' content, cheating the unaware users multiple times.

The recently issued Resolution 77 has tightened up laws over mobile phone advertising. The resolution bans providers from sending multi-adverts with the same content to the same person within a day, and that providers must also have subscriber agreement to receive advertising beforehand.

Doan highlighted the roles of related parties in the fight, especially the telecom companies.

In order to stop spam messages, the operators must tighten their monitoring, withdraw numbers from spammers and encourage mobile phone users to be more cautious when receiving phone messages.