MADISON – The Wisconsin State Telecommunications Association (WSTA) is urging citizens to be aware of fraudulent activity involving consumers of telephone service in Wisconsin. According to William Esbeck, WSTA Executive Director, callers identifying themselves as representatives of various companies – some fraudulent and some well-known – are contacting both business and residential customers, offering large discounts off their long-distance accounts, and using that as a guise to obtain personal information about the customers’ phone numbers, work addresses and mother’s maiden names. “Consumers should always be concerned when someone calls them and asks to discuss or clarify personal information,” said Esbeck. “We are encouraging customers to immediately check with their local or long-distance telephone company if they receive any suspicious calls.” WSTA also recommends reporting such telemarketing activity to the local police department or the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) at 1-800-422-7128. WSTA is a Madison-based trade organization representing all 83 local telephone companies, 31 of the state’s Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and 10 of the state’s wireless carriers.
