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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!houxm!hound!rfg
From: rfg@hound.UUCP (R.GRANTGES)
Newsgroups: net.followup
Subject: Re: Fraudulent use of AT&T Calling Cards
Message-ID: <502@hound.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 25-May-84 09:47:30 EDT
Article-I.D.: hound.502
Posted: Fri May 25 09:47:30 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 31-May-84 20:17:59 EDT
References: <3004@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 31

[]
Mr. Martin: Since I have nothing whatever to do with Calling
Card Service (well, almost nothing) I feel free to reply to
your flame.
You seem to feel strongly that while $1 million is too much to
charge little old ladys, it is perfectly allright, even imperative,
that they be charged their choice of $100, $200, ... or whatever,
whenever their calling card number is used fraudently.  I guess I
don't see that as any solution.
Let me assure you that , in the past and even today, to accomplish
what you suggest would not be nearly as simple as 'writng a few lines
of code.'  In fact it would have been very difficult and expensive
to do so.  Changes are taking place in the AT&T-Communications
network (i.e., "Long Distance") which at some time in the future
may make something like what you propose feasible at modest cost.
However, I am not aware that there is a perception within the
business that this needs to be done, let alone done with alacrity.
Of course, there is no reason for me to be aware as it is not my
responsibility.  Perhaps someone closer to that sort of thing will
reply to you.  Lacking that, I suggest you continue your efforts to
raise consciousness.  One way to do that is to spread your own
number around sleazy motels and try to become a statistic.
Since you are on the net, there is a good chance you went to one of the
many schools whose campus papers felt it obligatory to instruct
their readers in how to get free calls using Ma Bell's calling
card numbers. I'm sure you wrote letters to the editor opposing
their actions. I'll bet you did. It seems everyone wants to beat the
system, or the company, or Ma Bell (they succeeded there), but no
one likes the idea of hitting the little old ladies.
Dick Grantges hound!rfg