Published: 11/6/2007

Highway Patrol warns of scam that can hijack your phone, run up bill

ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLUMBUS -- The State Highway Patrol is warning about a scam that can hijack your phone and ring up big bills.

A spokesman says the patrol is alerting Ohio consumers after a woman in central Ohio got a call from someone claiming to be a law enforcement officer and asking her to dial a number beginning with the "*'' (star) key, then "72."

Lt. Tony Bradshaw warns that "*72" is commonly used by people with call-forwarding. When they dial the code followed by a phone number, all of their calls are transferred through to that number. The victim of the scam is stuck with the bill for any collect or third-party calls forwarded.

Bradshaw says the Ohio woman who was targeted didn't follow the caller's instructions but instead contacted police.

Read more in later editions of The Blade and toledoblade.com

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