There's been a number of scandals in the premium rate phone and text industry in the UK recently, with some prominent TV broadcasters being caught out selecting competition winners well before the advertised competitions have ended. After an investigation which was detailed in the Panorama programme broadcast in the UK last night, the biggest culprit has apparently been Opera Telecom (now known as Opera Interactive Group). The news doesn't look good, as apparently Opera were well aware of the problems, with evidence pointing to their knowledge from the day after the very first competition that people were calling the competition lines, and being charged for entry, after the winner had already been chosen.

Opera have released a statement in regards the allegations:

Earlier this year Opera Interactive Technology took positive steps to improve its administration procedures and can confirm that all competition contestant entries throughout the entire competition period are now considered equally and fairly, whether handled directly by Opera Interactive Technology or by its telecommunications partners, using a randomised computer programme.

This process implemented as at 1st March 2007 has been observed and reviewed by Deloitte's and has been successfully passed as satisfactory and in full compliance with the latest ICSTIS guidelines.

Opera has in no way benefited financially from any errors in procedure in the past and will continue to keep its processes in line with any future OFCOM or ICSTIS guidelines.

Opera Interactive Technology has today removed relevant staff from normal duties with regard to GMTV competitions pending further investigation.

GMTV have also announced they have dropped Opera as their provider of premium rate telephone services, amidst allegations of fraud by Opera.

Panorama said tens of thousands of callers had been charged £1.80 to enter competitions on GMTV - but winners were shortlisted before lines closed.

The programme estimated that since 2003, callers had wasted a total of £45,000 a day - or £10m a year - entering the competitions.

Via SMS Text News.