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. During installation, the phone system administrator indicates what types of calls are acceptable and unacceptable. Normal calling parameters can be defined according to the areas called, the time of day calls are placed, and the types of remote calling that are acceptable. Unacceptable calls may include 900 calls, calls to certain countries, or calls made from a remote location above a set number.