After Attorney General Lori Swanson announced a lawsuit last week against a Pennsylvania company accused of sneaking charges onto hundreds of phone bills in Minnesota, she urged consumers to scour their bills for signs of "cramming." The practice is possible because phone bills can be used like a credit card.
Some tips to protect yourself:
•Check for unfamiliar charges, usually $20 or less.
•Look for descriptions such as member fee, voicemail, service charge, other fees, calling plan or Web hosting. The charges for Cheap2Dial, the company being sued, often showed up under the name USBI.
•Don't give your phone number for giveaways, contests or online "free" offers.
•Ask your phone company to block third-party charges.
To read the story about Swanson's lawsuit against Cheap2Dial, click here.
For more tips on how to avoid cramming or what to do if you're a victim, click here.
