CYTA WARNING: BE CAREFUL! INTERNET "TRAPS" CAN LEAD TO INFLATED
BILLS!
In line with its policy of
providing regular, updated information and protecting its customers,
CYTA would like to draw attention to the reappearance of Internet
"traps" which can lead to inflated bills for many unsuspecting
Internet users.
Internet users are charged when, during visits
to certain websites (mainly those featuring adult content), they
download specialised software from these sites. When this
software is activated, a user’s connection to his/her local Internet
Service Provider in Cyprus is terminated and the computer’s modem
automatically dials international telephone numbers, resulting in
the relevant charges to the user’s telephone bill. In some case,
when the computer and the modem are activated, the software will
make calls to the aforementioned telephone numbers abroad without
the user’s knowledge. It should be noted that in cases where the
modem’s dialing sound has been turned off, the user may be
completely unaware of the international calling procedure that is
taking place.
It is also worth noting that some websites may refer
to international connections abroad in their terms and conditions.
However, this information will not be clearly indicated and most
users are likely to overlook it.
Please note that ADSL connections are more secure,
provided that any analog modem is disconnected since it is not
necessary.
CYTA wishes to remind the public that it has no
control over calls made by its customers and cannot interfere with
them, so Internet users are advised to be extremely careful to
ensure that unwanted long-duration international calls are not being
made via their computers. Users alone are responsible for this.
For the protection of its customers, CYTA urges
Internet users:
-
to review in detail the terms and conditions
governing connections to such websites regarding the possibility
of connections to telephone numbers abroad,
-
to deactivate their modem or to disconnect it from
the telephone line, even when they are not on-line, so as to
prevent international calls being made without their knowledge,
-
to turn on the modem’s dialing sound in order to
identify possible attempts to make unwanted connections.
Additionally, customers who use telephone lines
exclusively for their Internet connections may, if they wish, ask
CYTA to activate Code Control Barring of Outgoing International
Calls (one-time connection fee £5) for greater security.
CYTA Public Relations
9 February
2005
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