Beware of Premium Rate Diallers

What Are Diallers and What Can I Do?
A software application called a 'dialler' or 'drop dialler' can install itself on your computer at the click of a mouse - so, when you go online, your PC will dial up the premium rate number - which can be up to £10 a minute - instead of the normal AOL one. This can lead to the shock of massive and unexpected telephone bills.

Double-check before clicking on any link, regardless of its source. It is not usually obvious - many dialler links or pop-ups do not explicitly tell you what you are accepting.

BEWARE: If you choose to view content or use games that you might reasonably be expected to pay for, but there is no charge, read the Terms & Conditions carefully before accepting. These could easily include your permission to dial up to a premium rate number. In addition, some sites might charge you twice - by premium rate number, and also through your credit card.

Don't unplug your common sense when you switch on your computer

Other Precautions:
-- Use Spyware Protection frequently to detect and remove spyware from your PC - the tool should remove all known diallers.
-- Purchase and install an anti-virus program, and make sure it is updated regularly. AOL scans all email and attachments for viruses, but you will need additional protection for your whole PC
-- Install a firewall program
-- Enable pop-up controls for AOL 8.0 and 9.0
-- Regularly check your phone bill and compare anything suspicious with the list of diallers at www.icstis.org.uk
-- Run Computer Check-Up or go to AOL Keyword: Messenger Pop-Ups, to remove grey Messenger pop-ups, which often link to suspect sites.
-- Contact your phone provider to get a premium rate bar put on your phone line. This is particularly useful for parents, as it will stop premium rate telephone calls as well. You may be charged extra for this service, depending on your provider.

What Does a Premium Dialler Do?
It changes your Internet settings to dial a premium rate telephone number for Internet access, instead of the AOL access number. Broadband members who have disconnected their 56K modem will not be susceptible to diallers.

The numbers are either 090 or international numbers, and you can contact BT to have either or both these categories blocked free by default. BT's selective bar costs only £1.75 a month. If you use another provider, contact them to find out what they offer.

It is, unfortunately, very easy to accept a dialler by accident, by unknowingly clicking on a link on a Web site or pop-up, and 'accepting' terms and conditions.

You won't necessarily realise that you have a dialler installed and unfortunately, you will be liable for all charges that appear on your telephone bill.

What Do I Do If I Get a Dialler on My PC?
It is difficult to detect a dialler once is it installed on your PC. Check your settings every time you connect to the Internet to make sure that you are connecting via an AOL access number. If you are concerned about the numbers, please contact Member Services Technical Help immediately at AOL Keyword: Live Help or on 0800 376 5432.

Where Can I Complain About My Phone Bill?
If you have a complaint about premium rate charges that have already appeared on your telephone bill, please contact the industry regulator ICSTIS (the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services) on freephone 0800 500212 (9am-4pm, Monday to Friday). There's more information on their Web site at www.icstis.org.uk. ICSTIS investigates complaints about any promotion or service involving the use of a telephone connection (including the Internet) to make a premium rate call.

Phone companies do not have the power to block numbers, but ICSTIS does, and can shut down 090 numbers, which are easily traced. It has to rely on cooperation from phone companies to trace international premium-rate service providers.

Charlie GW4SWW

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