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November 1, 2007

A new worry for contractors: phone fraud

  • U.S. construction companies with PBX systems are being targeted by overseas phone hackers.
    • By MARK PETERSEN
    Telesys Northwest

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    WHEN THE OWNERS of a large Northwest-based mechanical contracting firm received their phone bill in the mail, they had to look twice. The company's monthly long distance bill — usually around $2,400 — was more than $24,000.

    There was seemingly no reason for the 1,000 percent increase in long-distance charges. The company had not acquired any jobs overseas that would have allowed for such an increase in long-distance use, nor had anyone at the company been dealing with clients or colleagues in far off places. Without a plausible explanation for the seemingly overnight spike in phone charges, the owners knew something was painfully wrong. After a close analysis of the exorbitant bill, the cause became clear: The company had become a victim of toll fraud.


     
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