'Our SMSes reach out to lonely, young men'

Escort agency says sending messages on cellphone is the new marketing strategy

Escort agency says sending messages on cellphone is the new marketing strategy

SMSes selling weight loss programmes, real estate deals or even educational courses are passe. Now, receive messages on your mobile phone from escort agencies to befriend 'sexy college girls' or 'attractive airhostesses!'
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A very popular SMS that is making the rounds, says, "Hi I am Sonia. Meet hi-society female make friendship charming educated Indian models air hostess NRI doctors and more...."

He got it

South Delhi resident Sudhakar Shah was surprised to receive the SMS on Tuesday morning. "At first I didn't realise what the message meant. So I called the number from which the SMS had been sent. The man who received the call introduced himself as Roney from a Delhi escort agency. On questioning, he offered me the services of hot college girls at very attractive rates," said Shah.

Interestingly, on being grilled further by Shah, the escort service agent allegedly revealed how he had procured the mobile phone number. "Roney said his agency had the data base of thousands of young executives working in Delhi and its suburbs. He added there are many young men who want to go out with girls but do not know whom to contact. He said his agency was reaching them through SMSes and that this was their new marketing strategy," said Shah.

Curiosity calls

MiD DAY too called up the number to verify Shah's allegation. This time, the call receiver introduced him as Prince and started giving details of girls available along with their rate list. "From college-goers to air hostesses, we have everything you need. If you are ready to spend more I can also arrange hot NRI girls. Bolo, tumhara budget kya hai (What's your budget?)," said Prince.

Pleasure at your fingertips: City escort agency says SMSes are a very effective marketing tool. Pic/Subhash Barolia

The agent revealed they send out 700 to 1,000 SMSes in a day from the list of working professionals available with them. "We buy the contact details of potential customers. Sending these SMSes costs us a few hundred rupees only but they reach out to our target audience and work very effectively. Many call us out of curiosity, like you have. The number of calls we receive has tripled within a week of sending the SMSes," said the escort agent.

Security worry

According to cyber security experts, the SMS again reveals the vulnerability of our personal data. Vivek Vohra, a Delhi-based cyber crime expert, said, "Telephone numbers of young executives are easily available and are openly sold in markets. They are also available on the Internet at very nominal rates. It is hard to catch the sender of an SMS as they can easily change the SIM of the mobile phone from which the message was sent. Moreover, they can use bulk SMS service, which covers the message's origins."

Escort agent says they send out 700 to 1,000 SMSes in a day from the wide list of working professionals with them. The agency claims to offer services of all types of girls

Our private lives on sale

MiD DAY, had in February 2009, published a story about how contact details are openly sold at Nehru Place. Young vendors sell CDs with personal information for just Rs 4 per person's data. From name, telephone number, mailing address and email address of business house employees, professionals and every telephone user, details of our lives are on offer. Such a CD can sell from anywhere between Rs 250 and Rs 40,000. Details of small enterprises sell for Rs 250 to Rs 500 per CD. But CDs with details of big corporate houses are tagged between Rs 30,000 and Rs 40,000 as these have more than 10,000 numbers with specific details of every employee of the organisation.