Technical information

MERLIN LEGEND/MAGIX Toll Fraud

Issue 7 June 2001

5-15

Protecting Remote Call Forwarding

The Remote Call Forwarding feature allows a customer to forward an incoming

call to another off-premises number. However, a caller could stay on the line and

receive another dial tone. At this point, the caller could initiate another toll call.

The following security measures assist you in managing the Remote Call

Forwarding feature to help prevent unauthorized use:

 Provide the Remote Call Forwarding capability only to those people who

need it.

 Do not use this feature with loop-start lines. Due to unreliable disconnects

from the carrier’s central office, this feature may allow dial-tone to be

re-established and additional calls to be made.

MERLIN LEGEND/MAGIX Toll Fraud

Why Toll Fraud happens

99.9 % of toll fraud is committed from the outside. Why? There is no

programming in place to prevent it.

A small percentage of toll fraud is committed from the inside by those who are

employed by the business which is serviced by the Legend/Magix. It is fairly easy

to catch a person who is operating from the inside.

 Employee making calls from any extension.

 A forwarded phone to an international phone number. Calls from the

outside will dial an extension number which is forwarding to the outside

phone number. From there the hacker can reach any phone number.

 A customer’s vendor (ex: cleaning service) making toll calls.

Tool Fraud Warning Signs

 Incoming calls to toll free area codes (800,888,877, etc.) are always busy.

 Direct inward dialing lines are always busy.

 Heavy call volume – especially at night and weekends.

 Unexplained increase in long distance calls.

 Switchboard operator complaining of frequent hang ups, or touch tone

sounds, when they answer.

1. Published 8/17/00