**DA 07-2006**

**Released: May 4, 2007**

**FCC Alerts Public and Merchants of Fraudulent Credit Card Purchases
Through Internet Protocol (IP) Relay Service, a Form of
Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS)**

The FCC urges merchants to use caution in handling telephone orders for
goods. Merchants that accept orders made by telephone for goods and
services should take steps to ensure that, for *any* order placed by
phone, the payment method or credit card is valid and the purchaser is
authorized to use the particular credit card. In addition, there are
some indicia of fraudulent telephone orders or business transactions
that merchants can use to help determine if an order placed by phone is
legitimate. These indicia include a caller who:

1.  is happy to order "whatever you have in stock";

2.  supplies multiple credit cards as one or more are declined;

3.  cannot provide the credit card verification code number (the three
    digit number on the back of the card);

4.  wants the goods shipped through a third party and/or an overseas
    location;

5.  will not identify himself or give a company name;

6.  changes delivery or payment method after an order has been approved.

The Commission has received informal complaints that people without
disabilities, who are posing as deaf or hard of hearing consumers, are
misusing an Internet based telecommunications relay service ("TRS" or
"Relay Service") called "IP Relay" to perpetrate fraudulent business
transactions, often by using stolen or fake credit cards.

[Don't Hang Up]{.underline}

The Commission reminds merchants that TRS provides access to telephone
services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing or who have a speech
disability. This is accomplished through TRS facilities that are staffed
by specially trained communications assistants (CAs) (also called 'relay
operators") who relay conversations between people who use different
types of telecommunications devices. Initially, all Relay Service calls
were made to or from a text telephone (TTY) connected to a regular
telephone line. The CA served as the \"link\" in the conversation,
converting TTY text for the TTY user to voice for the telephone user to
hear, and converting voice messages to text for the TTY user to read.
Many TRS users now use a computer or similar device and the Internet to
communicate with an "IP Relay" CA, who continues to serve as the "link"
to the telephone user. Advancements in technology are enabling other
forms of TRS as well, such as connecting through video conferencing
equipment with a CA who is a sign language interpreter. See FCC's Fact
Sheet about TRS at <http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/trs.html>.

The Commission also reminds merchants who accept telephone orders that
they must not "hang up" on calls made through a Relay Service. Title III
of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) requires merchants
to ensure that people with disabilities have access to their services.
Therefore, if a merchant accepts telephone orders from the general
public, the merchant cannot refuse to accept calls from people who are
deaf or hard of hearing or who have a speech disability who call through
a Relay Service. Calls made through a Relay Service can and must be
handled in the same way as any telephone call. For more information on
the applicability of the ADA in this context, see generally the United
States Department of Justice's ADA homepage, at
[www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm](http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm)
or contact the DOJ ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (voice) or
800-514-0383 (TTY).

Purchases made with stolen or fake credit cards are illegal, and the
Department of Justice and the FBI can investigate. The Federal Trade
Commission is also aware of this problem. Persons who have been
defrauded should contact the FTC directly at
[www.ftc.gov](http://www.ftc.gov/) or [877-FTC-HELP]{.underline}. The
FBI also has a website for complaints and information regarding Internet
crimes: [www.ic3.gov](http://www.ic3.gov/). The public may also contact
the FCC's Consumer Assistance Information Line at 1-888-225-5322 (voice)
or 1-888-835-5322 (TTY). The Commission has a pending Further Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking which is examining other steps the FCC might take
prevent misuse of IP Relay. See
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-58A1.doc>.

The full text of this document and copies of any subsequently filed
documents relating to this matter will be available for public
inspection and copying during regular business hours at the FCC
Reference Information Center, Portals, II, 445 12^th^ Street, SW, Room
CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. This document and copies of subsequently
filed documents in this matter may also be purchased from the
Commission's duplicating contractor at Portals II, 445 12^th^ Street,
SW, Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554. Customers may contact the
Commission's duplicating contractor at their web site,
[www.bcpiweb.com](http://www.bcpiweb.com/), or call 1-800-378-3160.

To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities
(braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail
to <fcc504@fcc.gov> or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
at (202) 418-0530 (voice) or (202) 418-0432 (TTY). This *Public Notice*
can also be downloaded in Word and Portable Document Format at
<http://www.fcc.gov/cgb.dro>.

Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau Contact: Dana Jackson, (202)
418-2247 (voice), (202) 48-7898 (TTY); e-mail <dana.jackson@fcc.gov>.

**-FCC-**