diff --git a/v5/Http/Controllers/USSDController.php b/v5/Http/Controllers/USSDController.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..40a073a604
--- /dev/null
+++ b/v5/Http/Controllers/USSDController.php
@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace v5\Http\Controllers;
+
+use Ramsey\Uuid\Uuid as UUID;
+
+use Illuminate\Http\Request;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;
+
+use v5\Http\Resources\PostResource;
+use v5\Models\Message;
+use v5\Models\Contact;
+use v5\Models\Post\Post;
+use v5\Common\ValidatorRunner;
+
+/**
+ * ---> WARNING: This is a crutch <---
+ *
+ * We are adding this specific controller for posts coming from USSD sources,
+ * so that incoming posts can have contact information attached, just like SMS.
+ *
+ * Eventually we should have a more evolved data source framework that allows
+ * bringing in structured posts with source metadata.
+ */
+class USSDController extends PostController
+{
+    public function show(int $id)
+    {
+        throw new Exception("Invalid controller method");
+    }
+
+    public function index()
+    {
+        throw new Exception("Invalid controller method");
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Overriding the POST method so as to handle contact information
+     */
+    public function store(Request $request)
+    {
+        /* TODO: USSD-specific authorization?
+         *
+         * Presently the assumption is that these come in anonymously,
+         * because that's how ussd-engine operates.
+         * But what would happen if they came in as an authenticated user?
+         * What would be considered the source of the post? The user, or
+         * the detailed shource information.
+         *
+         * As we are thinking of more loosely coupled datasources, this
+         * should be taken into account.
+         */
+
+        /* This method works on an additional property to the post body:
+         *
+         *  {
+         *    ...,
+         *    source_info: {
+         *      received: "YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SSZ",
+         *      data_source: "ussd",
+         *      type: "phone",
+         *      contact: "xxxxxxxxx"
+         *    }
+         *    ...
+         *  }
+         *
+         *  Validate this property from the request.
+         */
+        $source_info = $request->input('source_info');
+        $val_rules = [
+            'source_info' => 'required',
+            // TODO: couldn't get this validation just right yet
+            // 'source_info.received' => 'required|string|date_format:' . \DateTime::ISO8601,
+            'source_info.data_source' => 'required|string|in:ussd',
+            'source_info.type' => 'required|string|in:phone',
+            'source_info.contact' => 'required|string|min:6'
+        ];
+        $v = ValidatorRunner::runValidation(
+            ['source_info' => $source_info],
+            $val_rules,
+            []  // TODO: custom messages?
+        );
+        if ($v->fails()) {
+            return self::make422($v->getErrors());
+        }
+        
+        /* Call up the parent controller to get the post created */
+        $post = parent::store($request);
+        if (!($post instanceof PostResource)) {
+            /* An error has happened creating the post, shortcircuit to that */
+            return $post;
+        }
+
+        DB::beginTransaction();
+        try {
+            /* Lookup / create contact if not present */
+            /* assert type is phone */
+            $contact = Contact::firstOrCreate([
+                'data_source' => $source_info['data_source'],
+                'type' => $source_info['type'],
+                'contact' => $source_info['contact']
+            ], [
+                'can_notify' => false
+            ]);
+            
+            /* Create message record */
+            $message = new Message;
+            $message->contact()->associate($contact)->save();
+            $message->post_id = $post->id; // this is not yet an eloquent-managed relationship
+            /* USSD doesn't technically come in with a message, we shall craft
+            * a stand-in. */
+            $message->title = "(Fulfilled USSD survey)";
+            /* TODO: anything more useful that could go here? */
+            $message->message = "(Fulfilled USSD survey)";
+            $message->datetime = \DateTime::createFromFormat(\DateTime::ISO8601, $source_info['received']);
+            $message->data_source = $source_info['data_source'];
+            /* TODO: anything useful from ussd-engine that could go here? */
+            $message->data_source_message_id = "random-" . UUID::uuid4()->toString();
+            $message->type = 'ussd';
+            $message->status = 'received';
+            $message->direction = 'incoming';
+            $message->notification_post_id = null;
+            $message->save();
+
+            DB::commit();
+
+            /* The post resource should now be re-rendered, because of the
+             * information added to it since creation in the parent.
+             * This is not ideal performance-wise, but we'll take the hit
+             * for now.
+             */
+            return new PostResource($post->resource);
+        } catch (\Exception $e) {
+            DB::rollback();
+            return self::make500($e->getMessage());
+        }
+    }
+
+    public function patch(int $id, Request $request)
+    {
+        throw new Exception("Invalid controller method");
+    }
+    
+    public function update(int $id, Request $request)
+    {
+        throw new Exception("Invalid controller method");
+    }
+
+    public function delete(int $id, Request $request)
+    {
+        throw new Exception("Invalid controller method");
+    }
+}
diff --git a/v5/Http/Middleware/V5GlobalScopes.php b/v5/Http/Middleware/V5GlobalScopes.php
index b4b764b28c..95f75feaf0 100644
--- a/v5/Http/Middleware/V5GlobalScopes.php
+++ b/v5/Http/Middleware/V5GlobalScopes.php
@@ -25,7 +25,11 @@ public function handle($request, Closure $next)
          * @TODO more tests maybe????????
          * @TODO remove the need for isSavingPost
          */
-        $isSavingPost = $request->path() === 'api/v5/posts' &&  $request->isMethod('post');
+        $isSavingPost = $request->isMethod('post') && \
+            in_array($request->path(), [
+                'api/v5/posts',
+                'api/v5/posts/_ussd'
+            ]);
 
         if (!$isSavingPost) {
             Category::addGlobalScope(new CategoryAllowed);
diff --git a/v5/Models/Contact.php b/v5/Models/Contact.php
index aab731f5f7..d724f947ed 100644
--- a/v5/Models/Contact.php
+++ b/v5/Models/Contact.php
@@ -8,12 +8,22 @@ class Contact extends BaseModel
         'messages'
     ];
 
+    const CREATED_AT = 'created';
+    const UPDATED_AT = 'updated';
+
     /**
      * Add eloquent style timestamps
      *
      * @var boolean
      */
-    public $timestamps = false;
+    public $timestamps = true;
+
+    /**
+     * The storage format of the model's date columns.
+     *
+     * @var string
+     */
+    protected $dateFormat = 'U';
 
     /**
      * Specify the table to load with Survey
diff --git a/v5/Models/Message.php b/v5/Models/Message.php
index db0243b6ae..53893ac23c 100644
--- a/v5/Models/Message.php
+++ b/v5/Models/Message.php
@@ -7,13 +7,24 @@ class Message extends BaseModel
     public static $relationships = [
         'contact'
     ];
+    # --> and relationship to Post?
+
+    const CREATED_AT = 'created';
+    const UPDATED_AT = null;
 
     /**
      * Add eloquent style timestamps
      *
      * @var boolean
      */
-    public $timestamps = false;
+    public $timestamps = true;
+
+    /**
+     * The storage format of the model's date columns.
+     *
+     * @var string
+     */
+    protected $dateFormat = 'U';
 
     /**
      * Specify the table to load with Survey
diff --git a/v5/routes/api.php b/v5/routes/api.php
index 4a1cd6168b..e1088feba4 100644
--- a/v5/routes/api.php
+++ b/v5/routes/api.php
@@ -82,5 +82,6 @@
     ], function () use ($router) {
         // Public access
         $router->post('/', 'PostController@store');
+        $router->post('/_ussd', 'USSDController@store');
     });
 });