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Alert!

Pressing Nine (9), Zero (0), Pound (#) Could End Up Costing You Dearly

Beware:

People falsely claiming to be service technicians for telephone companies are phoning unsuspecting businesses and trying to scam them out of their money.

These so called "technicians" tell you that they are conducting a test. They ask you to press nine (9), zero (0), the pound key (#) and then to hang up the phone.

Any time you press 90#, you automatically give the caller full access to your telephone line. This allows them to use your line to make long-distance phone calls and the bill will come in your name.

This scam was attempted on businesses which have more than one phone line and where you need to dial an extra number to get an outside line.

Be Wise:

You can avoid falling victim to this type of scam by exercising caution:

If you get a call from someone who claims to be conducting a test over the phone, refuse to participate until you have proof that the test is legitimate.

Contact the company which the person claims to represent and confirm that the test is not a fraud.

Find out the name of the person calling you and make sure they are an employee of that company.

     
   
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