Internet Auto-Dialers

Warning: Long Distance Charges Can Result From Dialer Viruses & Websites

Télébec wishes to remind its customers to exercise caution when downloading "adult" content, games, or music videos from entertainment sites on the Web. Some sites use "dialer" programs to enable you to view their content and these can occasionally disconnect your computer from your regular Internet Service Provider (ISP) and reconnect to an international number, often without your knowledge, resulting in substantial long distance charges on your phone bill. These dialer programs can also be contracted in the form of a dialer virus through infected email, chat lines and from downloaded file sharing software.

Why and how?

These Web sites may require you to download an application to access certain areas of their site. Once the application is fully downloaded to your system, it states in fine, almost illegible print, that long distance rates may be charged to your account. This fine print very clearly indicate that this application will be establishing a link with a server outside your country and that your phone bill will be charged a certain amount. Also, you may not be informed of the charges when downloading the application, but you are always informed of the charges on your phone bill. There are hundreds of sites of this type, and the application name, rate structure, and layout can differ widely.

Once you have accepted this warning, the application issues a command to your modem to establish a second Internet connection. The modem then dials a telephone number that connects you to a server located outside the country. Since you are still on the Internet, you don't realize that you are no longer connected via your local ISP, but via long distance instead.

Prime targets

The most likely victims of this scam are Internet subscribers with any dial-up connection, regardless of the ISP. Customers of services that offer free Internet access are especially vulnerable. Many ads for such sites can be found on the registration forms of sites that offer free Internet access. Usually, most customers of this type of ISP are beginners, meaning that they are ideal victims because of their technological naiveté.

High-speed service subscribers are not as vulnerable to this type of fraude because the modems they use are unable to connect simultaneously to two numbers. The connection would shut down and reopen, thus alerting the customer.

However, there is still cause for concern for a High Speed subscriber who uses the modem as a fax. The customer is no longer protected, because the computer can theoretically connect to the Web by dialing the other side of the world; some customers have both a high-speed modem and an integrated modem (for dial-up connection). If the integrated modem is still plugged into the phone jack, it can dial overseas without warning.

Precautions

Read all software user agreements carefully, especially if downloaded from the Internet.

Install a dedicated second phone line for Internet access, and block all long distance calls on that line. You can make the request by calling Télébec Customer Service.

Use anti-virus programs to search and remove dialer viruses from your computer.

Check the phone number the modem dials to establish Internet access (dial-up connection). Make sure it is your local ISP number. Many people have had nasty surprises when they found out that their ISP server was in the United States and that every minute they spent surfing the Web was long distance.

Check the number of your Internet dial-up connection regularly. Follow the procedure applicable to your operating system:

Windows 95-98
Windows ME
Windows NT
Windows XP
Windows 2000

High-speed customers should make sure their integrated dial-up modem is disconnected from the phone jack.

Disconnect the modem from the phone line when the Internet service is not in use (dial-up and high-speed customers).

Your responsibility

Under the terms of the Télébec service agreement, which are prescribed by the CRTC, customers are responsible for their calls, as specified in section 1.2.9 below:

Moreover, please be aware that Télébec has to pay royalties to other long distance companies for use of their network, in order to route your call to its final destination.

Consequently, you are responsible for long distance calls made from your residence. Read Internet download instructions carefully to make sure that there are no direct or indirect costs involved. In accepting the warning and the "terms and conditions" of said Web sites, you are accepting any long distance charges that might potentially be associated. When you dial a Web site located in another country, you are dealing with that country.

Some may think that filing a complaint with l'Office de protection du consommateur (the Consumer Protection Bureau) may help. Unfortunately, the Office has no jurisdiction outside the province of Québec. The laws of Québec apply only in Québec.