Cofran's Telecom Tips Tricks & Traps

COFRAN & ASSOCIATES, INC.

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TELECOM TIPS, TRICKS & TRAPS

TRICKS:

BE SAFER WITH YOUR CELL PHONE IN THE CAR:

Load in your speed dial numbers and use them so you don't have to take your eyes off the road.

Have your companion dial for you.

Wait for a quieter section of the road to place a call. Don't start when you are approaching the spaghetti bowl.

Tell the called party you are in your car and they will understand why you may be distracted at times or become disconnected. Cut down the background noise, such as the radio, even the AC, and your companion's chatter so you can concentrate better. Consider using a headset

LD SCAMS: Now common place, as follows: the bad guys leave you a voicemail or beeper message with an area code outside the US, but with a familiar looking 3 digit area code format. You return the call, which is automatically forwarded to a pay-per-call service that invoices through a LEC billing service arrangement, and you are stuck paying for the call on your local phone bill. You can't easily chase these out-of-country bandits. Beware of strange area codes and compelling messages (your relative was injured in a wreck, etc.)

BOGUS INVOICES: Be careful of familiar looking invoices from companies who are cleverly disguised as providers of routine directory services, such as "Yellow Pages" and similar titles. The invoice appears like a renewal and we have seen many in the $195 to $995 range. The unsuspecting office manager or accounts payable clerk can easily be fooled.

If you have any favorite tips, tricks or traps, let us know so we may post them here for all to share. E-mail: visitor@cofran.com