‘Cramming’ charges on phone bills are latest scam

Jason Freed was killing time online last fall when he found a web site promising to help decide between presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain. He went for it, answering a number of questions on his political views.

“At the end, it said enter your cell phone number and we’ll text you who you should vote for,“ said Freed, of Cleveland. “I got my cell phone bill a month later and I had a premium text message charge for $9.99 and, every time I got a text, it was $9.99.“

It’s called “cramming” and it’s the latest scam to ring up big bucks.

It starts by duping unsuspecting internet users into providing their cell phone numbers to take IQ quizzes, win prizes and get coupons to stores like Home Depot, Walmart and Old Navy.

Once they get your number, they “cram” unwanted charges on your phone bill for things like premium text messages, e-mail accounts and voice mail.

They charge you even if you didn’t want the service or never got it.

One woman, who did not want to be identified, says that she found three separate charges on her phone bill—purportedly for voice mail and email services.

She said the companies charged the bill after her teenage daughter went to web sites and entered a phone number to claim a prize and to sign up for cut-rate discounts.

“They seem to be small amounts,“ she said, “hoping you never notice they’re on there.“

Dr. James Rambasek is not even sure how one company, Enhanced Bill Services, got his information after finding a charge on his bill.

“I called the number that was on the phone charge and they said that my son had authorized this charge to the number,“ Rambasek recalled. “I said, ‘That can’t be. He’s never had access to this number.‘“

The Better Business Bureau urges anyone who uses the internet to be wary of entering any personal information.

Companies can and do sell that information to marketers who will target you.