WASP Alert: Why Your Airtime Is Vanishing Without a Trace

Why Is Your Airtime Disappearing?

If you’ve ever felt like your airtime or data vanishes too quickly, you’re not alone. This is a common frustration in South Africa, often discussed around braai fires. You top up, only to find that your balance is gone within a day or two.

We already know that airtime and data in South Africa are more expensive compared to other countries. This makes it even more frustrating when your balance seems to disappear for no clear reason. It feels like you're paying twice: once for the high costs, and then again when your airtime or data just disappears.

But is something shady really going on?

While many people believe cell phone companies are responsible, experts say it’s more complicated. The real culprit could be something called a WASP.

What is a WASP?

A WASP, or Wireless Application Service Provider, is not something many people know about. But they could be silently draining your airtime or data without your knowledge. These services can sign you up for paid subscriptions without your consent, slowly eating away at your balance.

It may not seem like much at first—maybe R7 a day—but that adds up quickly. Over a month, that’s R210 you never agreed to spend.

How WASPs Drain Your Airtime

Research shows that it often takes around four months for people to notice they’ve been subscribed to a WASP service. By then, they’ve already lost R840. And if the WASP has just 1,200 unsuspecting users, they’ve raked in a million rand from people who never agreed to anything.

So, how does this happen?

You might receive an SMS that says something like, “You’ve got a Photo MMS message! View it now at www…”. When you click the link, you’re taken to a website that asks you to subscribe to see the message. The details of the subscription, including any fees, are buried in the fine print, which most people don’t notice. Even if you quickly exit the site, it’s often too late—you’ve already been subscribed.

What Can You Do About It?

The good news is, most cell phone providers offer a way to check if you’ve been subscribed to any WASP services. You can then cancel them to stop any further charges. Check your provider's website for steps on how to do this.

Unfortunately, getting your money back is unlikely. WASPs are skilled at hiding behind layers of companies, making it difficult to trace who’s really responsible. So, the best way to protect yourself is by regularly monitoring your airtime and data balances. If they’re depleting faster than expected, you could be the victim of a WASP.

Stay vigilant and check your subscriptions regularly. In the end, only you can protect yourself from these hidden charges.