Caller: Hello, Ashish
Me : No, Mitul here.
Caller: That’s ok, How much you do want for your Galaxy Note II ?
Me : I don’t have Note II, who told you ? and How you got my number?
Caller: Yes, You posted on OLX for sale of Galaxy Note II, this number is there on the OLX website
Me: No, I never posted on OLX
Caller: that means someone posted your number
Me: Ohhh. OMG
This kind of conversation got repeated for more than 300 times within a span of 20 hours. I received calls from across India and the inquiry went from mobile phone to AC, to double bed, to cycle and what not. Completely flummoxed of this sudden flurry of unwanted calls and my whole night went up in answering unwanted calls.
Later, I got to know my personal mobile number was on public display at OLX website with things up for sale under different categories. However, I have never posted any product for sale there.
The real ordeal started when i was unable to call OLX as they do not have direct telephonic customer care support on its website. Then, I tried to touch base with them through email, social media platforms like FB and twitter where they have an active presence but no one responded to my hardships. The social media team instead of addressing my queries were busy in contests and all and not responded to my numerous tweets.
I googled and checked that I was not alone a victim of OLX poor verification mechanism, there were many others who have suffered the same fate but no solution from OLX.
Then I decided to use social media platform to highlight this anomaly of OLX website where an individual privacy is compromised without any proper verification. I started a twitter hashtag #OLXmurdabad and started tweeting about OLX’s poor customer care facilities and no grievance readressal system as a protest. Soon, people started Retweeting the tweets posted by me and others too started sharing their problem faced due to OLX inefficiency.
After 20 long hrs. I received a reply from three different individuals from OLX with same kind of response.
My Reply.
Received 2-3 same templated answers like previous one.
Finally, OLX authorities deleted the fake account with my number. However, they never gave a clear answer on security issues of the website and denied to provide the details of the fake account.
Check out :
https://www.consumercourt.in/mobile-services/108048-my-number-wronly-placed-olx-ad-2.html
More 100+ can be listed here
The real issue is that anyone can suffer like this as long as OLX and other classified sites improve their user verification system to post mobile numbers and other personal detail.
Imran Ladiwala
The poblem is ‘Authentication”.
Assume you registered on olx from their website:
– You have to register
– Post an ad.
If you post an ad from their mobile app:
– You do not have register.- But entering your email address is compulsory.
I am guessing this is how their system works:Example: If I know Alok uses alok.kejriwal@gmail.com as his email address and his mobile number is 9876543212. I can post an add on OLX’s app from “MY phone” with Alok’s mobile number and email address.
OLX would then do a back check to see if this email is registered. If yes, add this ad under that account.
Has happened with me too in Nov 2012.
Girish
Here is a variant of the great OLX screwup – My wife posted our son’s pram for sale. She did mention her contact number. She receives a call from a man called Rajiv Khalon. He first asked wife to send the photos of the pram as he claimed he was not able to view them on OLX. My wife sent it to his email id. Next, he replies to her email saying his wife already bought it. His conversation continues with my wife asking her if she is “Konkani”. He also messages saying he has added her to Gtalk. My wife replies saying she doesnt use Gtalk. He then asks if she is on Yahoo Messenger.
I am shocked….scared…pissed….you name it…
Guys please advise next course of action.
Girish