You can choose to read this guide from beginning to end, or jump directly to a section of interest. Any company with a phone system that can be accessed from outside the office is vulnerable to toll fraud. Hackers can access phone systems through features such as voice mail, DISA, and remote maintenance ports, even when they are not activated. DISA makes a phone system very vulnerable to toll fraud, since outbound calling capabilities are just a password away. Toll fraud can also refer to unauthorized usage of a phone system.
Hackers often take over unused voice mail boxes for their own purposes.
This can tie up your system and result in high charges if the voice mail system can be accessed with a toll-free number. Although toll fraud seems like an unlikely threat, the cost of toll fraud is enormous. Experts estimate that toll fraud costs U.S. businesses several billion dollars each year. Many businesses, including small businesses, have found themselves hit with thousands of dollars in fraudulent charges in just a few days. Toll fraud equipment consists of software and hardware that is networked to your phone system via computer.