| These days in the vast cell phone market there | | | | turn is cloned. |
| are so many choices of phones and wireless | | | | The birth of cell phone fraud, mainly phone cloning, |
| providers it can be quite confusing on what is | | | | was born in the 1990's. The fraud grew enough in |
| what for many cellular consumers. Because of the | | | | this time period that the FCC enacted a law in |
| immense size of all of the current options, this | | | | 1998. This law makes it a criminal offense to |
| has led to the clandestine practice of cell phone | | | | clone phones, but this alone is not enough to |
| fraud. | | | | protect yourself. |
| Cell phone fraud is when your phone is used | | | | What Can I Do to Protect Myself? |
| without your authorization. Such unauthorized use | | | | Believe it or not the solution is simple. Buy a new |
| can be either your phone being used without your | | | | phone. More modern cell phone manufacturers |
| knowledge, previously tampered with via spyware | | | | have put many measures in place in their newer |
| apps, as well as other hardware and software | | | | phones that make cloning close to impossible. If |
| manipulations. | | | | you own an older phone and are worried about |
| One major form of cell phone fraud comes in the | | | | security, now is the opportunity to better protect |
| form of Identity theft. In the case of identity | | | | yourself. |
| theft, a criminal uses someones social security | | | | Other measures include always shredding your |
| number and name to purchase wireless services | | | | personal documents, storing your birth certificate |
| and/or phones. In this particular case, if you were | | | | and social security number in a safe place. When |
| to be the victim, you would be being billed and | | | | giving personal information via forms online, make |
| charged for another persons use and purchase of | | | | sure the form is SSL encrypted (golden lock in |
| wireless services and products. This particular | | | | your browser) and more importantly, make sure |
| practice of using your I.D. And other information | | | | it is a site you trust. Never send your vital |
| to obtain a cell phone and services is called | | | | information through email or give it over your |
| "subscriber fraud". | | | | phone to a telemarketer. |
| A still present but declining form of cell phone | | | | How Do I Know I am a Victim? |
| fraud is what is commonly known as "cell phone | | | | Pay close attention to your wireless bill. If you |
| cloning". In this particular case of fraud, a phone is | | | | notice usage that you never took part in, call your |
| reprogrammed (the criminal's) to match your ESN | | | | carrier to confirm your usage with them. Also pay |
| which is otherwise known as an "electrical serial | | | | close attention to your mail for bills in your name |
| number". | | | | or another person's coming to your mailing |
| When your ESN has been cloned, you (the victim) | | | | address. Periodically pay attention to your credit |
| end up paying for your phone and services as | | | | report, this can additionally inform you of any |
| well as the criminal's minutes and other usages. | | | | potential fraud or theft. |
| This is done through a more high tech method of | | | | Always call your local authorities immediately if |
| eavesdropping via radio waves. The radio waves | | | | you feel you have become a victim of fraud as |
| from your cell phone are picked up and the | | | | well as your carrier or the carrier the criminal is |
| emitted ESN becomes their knowledge which in | | | | using to freeze any fraudulent accounts. |