WASHINGTON-As the telecommunications industry continues its offensive to beguile fraud criminals with technology, Freddie the Fox is fighting fraud on the homefront.
The Alliance to Outfox Phone Fraud has launched a campaign to increase fraud awareness and prevention among consumers through advertisements, public service announcements, brochures and public appearances by Freddie.
Alliance members include Bell Atlantic Corp., Southwestern Bell Telephone Cos., Illinois Consolidated Telephone Co., American Telecommunications Enterprises Inc. and the Communications Fraud Control Association.
Freddie will warn consumers about suspicious third party or collect calls and explain how to avoid fraud when using long-distance calling cards or cellular phones. He advises cellular users: remove the cellular handset and antenna from your vehicle when not in it; don’t reveal your electronic serial number or leave it written in an unsafe place; don’t let others use your phone if you’re not present; have service done only by authorized cellular distributors; and if the phone is stolen, immediately call the police and your cellular carrier.
The Telecom & Network Security Review expects telecommunications fraud to reach $3.4 billion in 1995, an increase of $70 million from 1994.
