Santa 'Fraud'

What Consumers and Operators Can Do to Protect Themselves From Mobile Fraud

This Christmas

WESTMINSTER, Colo., Dec. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Azure Solutions, the
telecoms revenue-assurance company, today warned of the increased risk
of fraud over the Christmas period in particular to consumers who buy
new mobile handsets and sign up to new service contracts. Telecoms
fraud is currently an annual $37.9 billion worldwide problem and Azure
has outlined some of the potential threats facing both consumers and
mobile operators during the festive season and identified some
preventative measures that can help to reduce the problem.

Consumers can start to help protect themselves against fraud by doing
the following:

* Set up a pin code on your phone to easily prevent use by other people.

* Consumers should limit service availability, such as international

roaming, to only those areas that they use on a regular basis.

* If a phone is lost or stolen, report it immediately -- unlike credit

cards, consumers are liable for any calls made until the phone is

reported lost.

* Treat your phone like you would your computer. Don't ever respond to

unsolicited text and e-mail messages, as this can quickly lead to

premium-rate subscription fraud, or you could be signed up to unwanted

services or fall victim to phishing scams.

* Apply the same common sense you would use with a traditional

telemarketer. Never give personal details to unsolicited callers, as

this could lead to identity fraud.

* Don't be a show off with your new holiday gift! There is no need to

advertise you have the latest mobile phone, only to become the target

of a phone thief. Treat your mobile phone just as you would your

wallet -- or you might find it missing in a flash!

As for mobile-network operators, the following advice can help them
combat telecoms fraudsters:

* Monitor dealer activations closely to identify potential dealer fraud.

* Monitor premium-rate services closely as fraudulent activity can be

hidden in the Christmas volumes of traffic.

* Monitor and limit service availability rather than include them as

standard on some packages, particularly over the Christmas period.

* Monitor SMS text messages for spam which can lead to premium-rate

service fraud.

* Remind retail and customer-service staff to be extra vigilant as

fraudsters may try and take advantage of the Christmas rush to

perpetrate card and subscription fraud and service alterations from

stolen phones.

Jack Wraith, chief executive of TUFF (Telecommunications UK Fraud
Forum), said: "Increased efforts by fraudsters during the Christmas
period is well known and an ongoing problem which can have significant
impact on customers who become victims of such activity. It is
therefore important that as many measures as possible are put into
place in order to mitigate such fraud and TUFF welcomes this timely
advice by Azure Solutions."

John Cronin, president and CEO of Azure Solutions, said: "Christmas
does provide many fraudsters with an opportunity to exploit telecoms
networks due to the proliferation of new handsets and service offers.
However, if both mobile operators and consumers work together and
follow some basic rules, they can start to ensure that opportunities
are reduced, so the fraudsters don't have a merry Christmas!"

About Azure Solutions

Azure Solutions is the world's largest revenue-assurance company. For
more information, visit www.azuresolutions.com SOURCE Azure Solutions