international roaming charges on my dial up networking

Please someone help. I just got my phone bill and it is over $2000, someone has somehow gotten a hold of my password and user id and make a bunch of international roaming charges. The phone company advised me to just change my password but obviously my system has be compromised...I need advance badly....anything!!!

 

Hi npoon,

You say international roaming charges, so this is for a mobile (cell) phone account? I once had my cell phone stolen. I at once called the phone company to let them know it was stolen. They put a freeze on the account so it could not make any more calls. The punks made only a few local calls before it was frozen. I had a police report made (what a waste).
I even called one of the numbers the punks called. It turned out it was the punk's grandmother! Through that connection I almost convinced the punk to give me back the phone. So close. So I just had to purchase a new phone. A refurbished model was offered for significantly less than regular price. Or you can use it as an excuse for that shiny new phone you've always wanted.

Either way call the customer service and bitch!
Tell them these are fraudulent phone calls and you never made them.
Do not say it is your fault. It is not your fault.
Why didn't they have international roaming turned off?
Why didn't they alert you to these obviously fraudulent charges?
They will remove the charges.
If they balk and say no, go over their heads and talk to the manager even get a little angry but be nice.
Alway be polite but very firm and don't let them wiggle out of cancelling the fraudulent charges.
If your cell service is near renewal time, use that as additional leverage.
It is unfortunate but true that the loudest customers (the ones who complain the most) get the best service.

First damage control and prevent additional losses.
Then recover and improve your security.

Hope this helps

 

There was also a problem with downloading a 'dialer' which could disconnect your system and then phone out to an international site for which you had to pay connect fees by the minute. Then the site just collected on the phone charges. This may not be what your problem is, but I switched from an internal to external modem with the sound turned on, so I can hear if a connection is in progress.

 

Good idea JW,

npoon needs to clarify if it is a mobile (cell) phone account with international roaming charges or a regular telephone account with international long distance charges.

 

Hi Npoon,
I noticed on you XP your have taken on the Telus fast dial..


O8 - Extra context menu item: Show All Original Images - res://C:\Program Files\TELUS\FastDial\fastdial.exe/250
O8 - Extra context menu item: Show Original Image - res://C:\Program Files\TELUS\FastDial\fastdial.exe/227


C:\Program Files\TELUS\FastDial\fastdial.exe

So I assume you do it all with Telus and maybe even have their Telus Mobility plan with a cell phone.


In any case Telus has had many problems of late and they are trying to help the problem..

Puts A Stop To 'Modem Hijacking'

June 25, 2004
TELUS blocks long distance direct-dialed calls to four countries to help reduce ‘modem hijacking'



http://about.telus.com/cgi-bin/media_news_viewer.cgi?news_id=470&mode=2

Synopsis:

"Telus, a major telco in Canada, decided to block long distance direct-dialed calls to four countries to help reduce dial-up 'modem hijacking'. The article explains: 'When the [dial-up] user downloads [certain malware programs], the downloaded file accesses software on their computer and causes the modem to dial phone numbers in foreign countries, resulting in long distance charges.' 4 countries were targeted: Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Nauru and Sao Tome. It is still possible to call to those countries with the operator assistance and the fees are waived.


TELUS Mobility service

http://www.telusmobility.com/clientcare/pcs_west/faqs/roaming_travelling.shtml



Why are people getting strange long distance charges on their phone bill?

http://about.telus.com/publicpolicy/scams_modemhijacking.html

 

the charges are on my regular phone bill and is listed under my internet charges. What can I do now to stop this? I have scanned with spybot, hijack this, changed my password, will change user name and have firewall. Have I missed anything? any additional advise would help.