Phone fraud: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Whether in the form of the consumer attempting to defraud the telephone company, the telephone company attempting to defraud the consumer, or a third party attempting to defraud either of them, fraud has been a part of the telephone system almost from the beginning.

According to Billing World magazine, as of 2004 "up to 10 percent of a carrier’s bottom line is lost to simple subscription fraud and other low-tech scams, such as when criminals sign up for service using fake names."

Types of frauds:

• phreaking
• PBX dial through
• autodialers
• interconnect fraud
• refiling
• cramming
• slamming
• pre-pay
• telemarketing fraud