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Apr. 3, 2007

Working to better protect mobile users from pretexting (gaining a phone customer's call or account records by pretending to be that customer) the Federal Communications Commission has prohibited mobile phone carriers from releasing sensitive customer records over the phone without an assigned password.

Additionally, the FCC now requires wireless carriers to specifically notify users immediately when there are any changes to their mobile accounts, such as a new password, new mailing address or at any time when a new online account is opened.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin said in a statement "the unauthorized disclosure of consumers' private calling records is an important breach of privacy."

Martin added "full compliance with our consumer protection regulations is not optional for any telephone service provider, wireless or otherwise. We need to take whatever actions are necessary to fully enforce these requirements in securing the privacy of personal and confidential information of American customers."

Pretexting to be someone else has become a major concern both for the FCC as well as the U.S. Government in 2006.

President George W. Bush signed a bill creating criminal penalties for pretexting in January.

Additionally, Congress is looking at even more legislation that would give the FTC authority to file lawsuits against pretexters and the people who hire them.

Traditional voice carriers as well as VoIP service providers are covered by the new rules.

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Source: Wireless Week