Protect Your Telephone Cards
Telephone cards offer a convenient means of placing calls when you are away from the home or office. However, illegal use of stolen telephone card numbers is one means by which phone service is obtained by thieves. Those who steal phone service in this manner increase the cost of phone service for everybody else.

You can take the following steps to protect your telephone card number:
	Recognize that the number on your telephone card is valuable information to a thief. This information is generally all the thief needs to bill calls to your telephone number.
	Except when you call an operator, there is no situation in which the telephone company will ask you for your card number or PIN. Do not provide your card number over the phone unless speaking to an operator and you initiated the call.
	If using your telephone card at a payphone, be aware that people may be looking over your shoulder ("shoulder surfing") or pretending to use the payphone next to you in order to obtain your card number.
	Know the number to call if your card is lost or stolen. Immediately report a lost or stolen card.

Web site last updated November 17, 2000 - all rights reserved.