« Previous Release | Next Release »

November 16, 2010

Scams Take No Holiday

Be Prepared with Peace of Mind from Frontier Communications

STAMFORD, Conn., Nov 16, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Consumers everywhere can relax this Holiday Season with Frontier Communications' Peace of Mind suite of services. The hackers, cyber thieves, spammers and more counting on snatching your personal and/or business identity will find it tough getting through Peace of Mind's Hard-Drive Backup, Unlimited 24-hourTech Support, PC Security Check, Wireless Network Diagnostic and Repair and more. All of these services are available to any consumer, anywhere.

Peace of Mind is a gift everyone will appreciate, especially now. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center® (ITRC), the last quarter of the year offers the biggest shopping season and the times of greatest opportunity for identity thieves and pickpockets. "Identity theft is the fastest-growing crime in America, affecting more than 10 million victims every year according to Money Management International (MMI)," shares Steve Crosby, Senior Vice President, Government and Regulatory Affairs for Frontier Communications. "Frontier is committed to offering tools that help consumers; we hope that the availability of Peace of Mind and the tips below will make holidays safer."

Money Management International and Frontier's advice includes:

  • Don't leave your wallet or statements lying around--even at home.
  • Don't carry Social Security cards or anything with your Social Security number on it.
  • Keep track of your credit card receipts and duplicates.
  • Never tell anyone your credit card number over the phone, unless you initiate the phone call.
  • Never allow your credit card number to be used as identification.
  • Collect your mail regularly and thoroughly destroy unwanted credit solicitations.
  • Never respond to an email or phone call asking for personal information.
  • Lock your vehicles and keep GPS devices, presents, purses and valuable items out of sight.
  • Expecting a package at home? Make sure someone is there to accept it or arrange to pick it up.
  • Review a copy of your credit report at least twice a year and scrutinize your credit card bills. Scammers know there are big dollars in smaller charges. They are counting on you to skip over that fraudulent charge for $19.95!"

If you become a victim, do the following as soon as you can:

  • File a police report.
  • Immediately notify issuers of credit.
  • Contact the fraud department of each of the credit reporting agencies to place a temporary 90-day Fraud Alert on your file.
  • Monitor your credit file.
  • Contact the Attorney General's office for your state, the Better Business Bureau, and the Federal Trade Commission (877-IDTHEFT).

"As a major provider of communications services, including phone and broadband, we know all too well that abuses can occur," says Crosby. "Here are some specific tips that reflect our experience:"

Phone Safety Tips:

  • Suspicious about a call from someone purporting to be a business partner? Listen to your gut and don't provide any personal information until you are 100 percent certain they are the real thing.
  • Do not call back numbers left by solicitors. Don't respond to messages asking you to call someone in the "809" area code or some other area code that you normally don't call. If you make the call, you may be unwittingly dialing into an expensive overseas pay-per-call service. The result can be large charges on your next phone bill.
  • Report suspicious calls to the Attorney General's Office for your state.
  • Register your telephone number on the National Do-Not-Call Registry at 888-248-4622.

Internet Safety Tips:

  • When visiting websites, look for a company's Security & Privacy information. Read it carefully to determine how and where the company shares personal data before you make a purchase or provide contact information.
  • Do not disclose your password to anyone.
  • If you receive an email that looks legitimate and directs you to a site that asks you for personal information -- such as a credit card or Social Security number - don't respond. These "phishing" scams work because the emails look so real.
  • Be alert for viruses, malware, spyware and more that are transmitted through the Internet and can infect their computers. These programs can destroy data and steal personal information. Frontier's Peace of Mind suite of services can help keep anti-virus software up-to-date and protect you and your family.

No representative of Frontier will ever ask you to disclose your password via phone or email. If you receive an email that appears to be from *@frontier.com and requests a username and password, please forward it to abuse@frontier.com immediately. The odds are that someone is attempting to trick you into releasing your credentials.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our Internet Help Desk by e-mail at support@frontier.com. Identity theft is investigated by agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Secret Service. For more information, visit www.usdoj.gov or www.consumer.gov. Finally, cautions Steve Crosby, "Remember that the holidays end but scams have no season. Stay alert."

About Frontier Communications

Frontier Communications Corporation (NYSE: FTR) is a Fortune 500 company included in the S&P 500 Index offering voice, High-Speed Internet, satellite video, wireless Internet data access, data security solutions, bundled offerings, specialized bundles for small businesses and home offices, and advanced business communications Access Solutions for medium and large businesses in 27 states and with approximately 14,800 employees. It has a 100 percent U.S.-based workforce. Frontier's myfitv offers an extensive library of entertainment content, an easy-to-use site navigation /search function, and national and local TV content. More information is available at www.frontier.com, www.frontier.com/ir and myfitv.

SOURCE: Frontier Communications Corporation 

Media:
Frontier Communications Corporation
Steven Crosby
SVP, Government and Regulatory Affairs
916-686-3333
steven.crosby@ftr.com


Close window | Back to top

Copyright 2013 Frontier Communications