I've traveled to many countries and have never encountered this but while in China I somehow received 300 of them adding $15 to my US bill. I was curious if anyone else has had this happen to them? I'm assuming this is a common problem in China..
Cheers
Howie

It's very very common.

My friend explained that are a couple of ways they do this. As you go by one of their transmitters - usually near the store that they are advertising for - it sends out a spam text.

The other type, they put the equipment in a van and do a drive around spam drive-bye. This is illegal however no one bothers to go after them.

I usually carry 3 telephones with me, when I get near a certain location, I get buzzed multiple times. My phones go off in succession. Its really annoying when these spam vans go back and forth.

Yes it is annoying, but it is the first time I read that one will be charged for receiving SMS. Is that a special US thing ?

Yes, but I think US carriers only charge you if you open SMSs.

I must say that spam messages aren't much of an issue for me because SMS isn't widely used in China any more.

No, that's not correct. You get a SMS you get charged. There's no such thing as "opening" a SMS.

People in China don't send text messages? Mostly use IM via data?

I had no idea this was how it worked (not an issue over here because incoming SMS has always been free).

I don't think I've sent or received more than 5 personal SMSs in the past year+ because Wechat has completely disrupted this practice. Apart from spam, the SMSs I still see are:

1) reminders from banks and mobile carriers about account activity
2) booking confirmations from airlines, hotels, and travel agencies
3) wifi access codes when using networks at places like Starbucks

I don't think I ever received more than one spam SMS message per month in the last several years. Don't know how you could get 300 in such a short time.

Yesterday alone, I received 26 spam messages on my SMS.

WeChat most definitely has people using IM more than text messages however I get regular text messages from people who rely on wifi not mobile internet. Of note, much of the "waidi" laborers do not have smart phones (yet) so these segment of the population still uses SMS.

Notice that office workers or city dwellers seem to use smart phones however visiting our factories, large number of the workers still use non smart phones.

I've never got any spam sms while in China.. and I've been to plenty of places with several phones (Swiss/German/Chinese numbers) - of course besides the "Welcome to China" text messages you get when connecting the first time to their roaming network. As everywhere in the world.

But then, paying to RECEIVE a text? I can send (when in my home country) free text messages world wide, and receive world wide for free (obviously) - what kind of scam provider actually charges you to RECEIVE a text? I would asap change to a provider that isn't scaming you.

US telecom providers are scalawags, for sure. The entire setup there on phones and contract plans, and charges, is bizarre compared to most of the planet. Unfortunately, they seem to enjoy cartel-style privileges though there are signs that might be changing. The plans for the most part aren't cost-friendly to people who travel internationally. So it's not as easy to escape to a better situation if one insists on using US-based plan for all worldwide communication needs.

When in China, I receive quite a few spam SMS on my Chinese phone. There seems to be no way to really stop them (though I have an old non-smart handset). I'm not sure why some of us get the spam and others don't--maybe provider, location, hardware/device or other.

Maybe it is location as I have an iPhone 5 with China Unicom or my Canadian SIM and get no more than one spam per month and same with my girlfriend who uses on old not very smart Motorola with China Mobile.

Maybe it is location as I have an iPhone 5 with China Unicom or my Canadian SIM and get no more than one spam per month and same with my girlfriend who uses on old not very smart Motorola with China Mobile.

It depends on your plan. I do pay--but I have a very minimal plan, I pay for anything I do with the phone.

Well, TMobile now gives free data and text in many countries when traveling outside of the US. China included.

I'm headed to Shanghai in 3 weeks and I can report back my experience ...

My landlord often sends me texts asking me to deposit money into his account for rent.