In the 1950's and 60's toll fraud consisted mainly of violators bypassing the telephone company's billing system, which made it the telephone company's responsibility.

In the 1970's, 80's and 90's, however, the advent of such services as remote access, voice mail and automated attendants, ushered in a new breed of high-tech villain whose chief target became access to customers' on premises telecommunications equipment.

This rapidly expanding pool of largely invisible "telethieves" - mainly computer hackers, organized crime and drug dealers - exacts a hefty price on American businesses, both large and small; $4 billion annually according to recent estimates.

But the cost as measured in excessive toll charges alone does not adequately illustrate the damage toll fraud can inflict on a business. Like an infectious germ invading a healthy body, toll fraud robs a business of productivity and profits, in many cases in ways that may be hard to detect.

Employee productivity may suffer as workers experience difficulty and frustration trying to obtain outside lines which have been taken over by unauthorized callers. And in today's business world, where seconds count, the inability to make a call when necessary can mean a lost customer.

At the same time, toll fraud can result in lost orders, as prospective customers encounter busy signals when dialing in to order your company's products or services.

Learn more about AT&T's Commitment To The Cause.

The best defense against toll fraud remains an educated customer.