I checked my bill and found the $9.99 “Premium TXT Messaging” from NextWeb Media aka Predicto aka Predicto Mobile aka Residential Email, aka other unauthorized cell phone billing scams.

I did some googling and found a lot of information. Looks like NextWeb Media CEO and President have already a long experience practicing this kind of scams.

From another complaint on this site, NextWeb Media CEO and President got sued at least in 3 states – Florida, Washington, Georgia- see these links:

See Washington State Office settlement agreement (EDN)
http://www.atg.wa.gov/pressrelease.aspx?id=14424

See Georgia Settlements (EDN)
http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/settlements/07712/unauthorized-cramming.html#

See Georgia Subscriber Refunds
http://www.georgia.gov/00/article/0, 2086, 5426814_5684686_80061913, 00.html

See state State of Florida complaint:
http://myfloridalegal.com/webfiles.nsf/WF/JFAO-6U3MJB/$file/EDNComplaint.pdf

They look like some bank robbers from the beginning of the last century when bank robbers used cars and police still used horses.

I also read the new class action document against NextWeb Media/Predicto at http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/09/18/Alltel2.pdf
Those guys were just billing you because you bought a new cell phone with a phone number that previously belonged to an other subscriber. Just incredible.

BTW, I filed a complaint at the FTC (http://www.ftc.gov/) and the other one at the FBI cyber-crime website at https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx

I am going to talk to my cell phone company tomorrow.

Thanks a lot for all the information posted and good luck.