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Internet Auto Dialers
Huge phone bills from calls you never made
People can use your modem without your knowledge to dial long-distance telephone numbers and bill
it to your phone account. This is done through the use of computer programs you may inadvertently
download. Some operate while you're surfing the Web, disconnecting your dial-up Internet connection
and reconnecting it through a new number. Others go to work while you're away from your machine,
dialing numbers after your system sits idle for a certain amount of time.
Here's how you can avoid this trap:
- Read EVERYTHING before clicking OK, especially when you are going to download something
- Call your telephone service provider (not your ISP)
- Turn off your computer and modem when not in use
- Don't delete data from your browser's history files, so that you can trace back problems if necessary
- Monitor other people when they use the Internet on your computer
- Be especially careful of adult sites
There may be a surprise lurking in your next phone bill
This sort of scam — known as modem hijacking, dialer hijacking, or Internet dumping — has become
increasingly prevalent. What is "Internet dumping"? It occurs when a Web site you are visiting
purposely disconnects you from your local Internet service provider (ISP) and reconnects you
through another one, usually using an international phone number or one that’s expensive to use.
The Web site will usually ask your permission first, but the request may be written in tiny
print among lots of other information about free downloads or software. Auto-dialers occur most
often on adult-oriented websites although they are not limited only to these.
Typically, dialers are loaded onto systems via what’s known as an ActiveX script. At the very least,
you should make sure your Internet browser is set to reject ActiveX code or warn you when such code
attempts to run. The trick here is that you have to install the dialer yourself and trickery is usually
involved in order to convince you to install it. A good general rule is to never install something on
the web unless you are absolutely sure you know what you are installing.
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