To avoid this dial carefully. Make sure that you hit each number only once. If you are not sure if you dialed correctly, hang up and start again.
Listen carefully. Once you’ve made the call, listen for the provider identification. If you placed the call from a public (hotel, airport, etc.) phone or payphone, the FCC has rules that require the provider to orally identify itself before your call is connected and billed. The rules also require the phone provider to give you directions on how to determine the price of your call. If you don’t hear a phone provider identification, ask the operator (if you are able to reach a live operator) who the phone provider is and what the rates are. If the phone provider or rate is not what you wanted, hang up and dial again. If you do not hear a phone provider identification and you can’t reach an operator, hang up and dial again.
If you receive a collect long distance call, listen carefully. When a long distance collect call is connected, listen for an identification of the long distance service provider before accepting the charges. If you don’t hear the long distance provider identified, say "no" to the long distance collect call until you’re able to find out who is connecting the long distance call. If it’s a long distance provider that’s not familiar or you’re not comfortable with, ask for the per-minute rates. If you don’t get an answer, say "no" to the long distance call. If possible, ask the person who is calling to call again using the intended long distance provider.
Review phone bills carefully. Although this won’t necessarily prevent you from becoming a victim of this scheme, it may help you avoid it in the future. If you or your family frequently make long distance collect or other operator-assisted long distance calls from public phones or payphones, be aware of the dangers of “careless dialing.”
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