Digital phone hacking has been going on for years, and the internet has made it easier for hackers to break into on-premise small business phone systems. In one such scam, hackers leased premium rate 900 numbers, the ones that charge in excess of $1 per minute. High-speed computers, making hundreds of calls every minute, in a matter of a few days, can swindle a couple hundred thousand dollars from any one business. The payout for the lessee can soar as high as 24 cents for every minute spent on the phone.
Telephone fraud costs thousands of dollars to individual businesses. The Times noted in one instance, “hackers broke into the phone system of Foreman Seeley Fountain Architecture, a small Georgia-based architecture firm, and made $166,000 worth of calls from the firm to premium-rate telephone numbers in Gambia, Somalia and the Maldives.”
Don’t think that just because you were not the one who made the calls that you won’t be responsible to pick up the check. Even though most phone carriers eventually settle disputable charges, the cost to small business can exceed several thousand dollars to clean up the mess.
Do you have a contingency plan for your Small Business Phone System if a natural disaster such as an earthquake, tornado, or hurricane occurred? Unbroken communication is vital among staff, vendors, and customers during unpredictable times. Your ability to stay afloat in a sea of turbulence will sustain your overall effort to provide quality service.
A phone system in the cloud ensures that communication will not break down. Contact us for more information on how we can set up a safe, secure and efficient communication system.
See PCWorld‘s article “VoIP buyers guide” for more things to consider when choosing a phone system for your business.
