FEATURE/Trick or Treat? AT&T Launches Campaign to Warn Consumers About Fraud.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE FEATURES)--Oct. 27, 1998--At Halloween, children and adults alike scheme to play tricks on friends.

But for some unscrupulous con artists, every day is a trick or treat day - treating themselves by tricking others. It's a scary business for consumers, unless they're armed with the right information on how to protect themselves from becoming a victim of fraud.

AT&T is launching an education campaign to warn consumers about some of the scams most likely to fool people when they're at home, away from home, talking on a wireless phone or surfing the `Net.

The campaign includes a new, educational AT&T fraud web site, http://www.att.com/fraud, as well as an updated fraud brochure that is available in English, Spanish, Japanese, Korean and Chinese. This is the first in a series of five features AT&T is publishing as part of its educational campaign.

Telephone fraud costs the industry an estimated $4 billion each year. And, as communications become more high-tech, criminals find new and even more sophisticated ways to defraud the unsuspecting consumer.

"Anyone can be a victim of phone fraud," said Tom Browne, AT&T vice president fraud operations. "People of all ages, income, education levels and lifestyles can be taken in by shrewd crooks." Consumers targeted most frequently by con artists include the elderly, non-English speaking people and those who use wireless and public phones.

To combat communications fraud, AT&T has sophisticated systems in place to detect and deter many types of long distance fraud. For example, if a customer's calling card or wireless telephone deviates from its normal activity, it automatically will trigger an alert to AT&T for investigation.

The company also participates in criminal investigations with federal, state and local law enforcement officials. But because the most effective safeguard against fraud is prevention, the company is committed to educating consumers.

"Consumer education is one of the most effective ways to combat fraud," said Browne. "It is important to teach all members of the family -- especially the elderly and children -- on how to avoid being defrauded at home and in public places."

10 TIPS FOR SPOTTING A SCAM! Be suspicious if...

1. The company has a name that is intended to sound like a

government agency or a well-known company.

2. You must act on the offer the same day.

3. A company is unwilling to send you written information on an

offer or give you references.

4. A caller asks for your calling card number as identification for

purchases.

5. Someone claims you've won a prize and you haven't entered a

contest.

6. Individuals linger close by while you are making a call from a

public phone.

7. You receive frequent wrong number calls or hang ups on your

wireless phone, which may indicate that someone is using your

mobile number.

8. Someone asks for your calling card or credit card number to

qualify you for a prize.

9. A telemarketer asks for your social security number so you can

purchase products or qualify for prizes.

10. You have to pay a fee before you receive complimentary goods or

services.

A number of organizations and government agencies are available to provide consumers with additional information or assistance. Consumers who think they have been defrauded should contact one of the following organizations:

National Fraud Information Center 1-800-876-7060 http://www.fraud.org

The Council of Better Business Bureaus 703-276-0100 http://www.bbb.org or your local Better Business Bureau

Federal Trade Commission 6th and Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. Washington, D.C. 20580 202-276-2222 http://www.ftc.gov

United States Postal Service 

For complaints about bogus mail order investments and purchases solicited by telephone, call the number listed in your telephone book under US Government, Postal Service.

Your State Attorney General

AT&T customers should call the number on their bill.

For more information on communications fraud and how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of telephone fraud, visit the AT&T fraud education web site at http://www.att.com/fraud. The AT&T Wireless Services Fraud Hotline is 1 800-328-1659. To order the new AT&T fraud brochure call 1 800 851-0439.