• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Cingular Wireless Supports Efforts By Congress to Stop 'Data Burglars'

Posted on: Thursday, 19 January 2006, 12:00 CST

ATLANTA, Jan. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesterday Senators Charles Schumer of New York, Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, and Bill Nelson of Florida introduced legislation to outlaw the outrageous practice that Cingular Wireless calls Cell Phone Records Ripoffs -- the unauthorized sale of cell phone records. Cingular believes that website operators advertising the sale of cell phone records obtain data through fraudulent means, such as by posing as customers seeking information about their own accounts or as TTY relay operators purporting to assist customers with hearing disabilities. Other members of Congress are also considering potential legislation to halt this practice.

The following comment may be attributed to Kent Wells, vice president - federal legislative affairs, Cingular Wireless.

"Cingular supports efforts by Congress to criminalize the acquisition and sale of wireless phone records by online data brokers -- who are really 'data burglars.' Though there are laws that enable Cingular to fight back against data brokers through civil lawsuits -- and just last week we obtained a Temporary Restraining Order against the companies involved with several of the most prominent websites, including locatecell.com -- we believe that enactment of clear criminal statutes is necessary. This will enable law enforcement to easily prosecute these fraudsters and put an end to their practices."

About Cingular Wireless

Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 52.3 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between AT&T Inc., formerly SBC Communications Inc., , and BellSouth Corporation , has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation -- the ALLOVER(SM) network -- and the largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover(SM), the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are available at http://www.cingular.com/. Get Cingular Wireless press releases e-mailed to you automatically. Sign up at http://www.cingular.com/newsroom.

First Call Analyst: FCMN Contact:

Cingular Wireless

CONTACT: Mark Siegel, +1-404-236-6312, or wireless, +1-404-374-2799, ormark.a.siegel@cingular.com, or Rochelle Cohen, +1-202-419-3007, or wireless,+1-202-341-5967, or rochelle.cohen@cingular.com both of Cingular Wireless

Web site: http://www.cingular.com/http://www.cingular.com/newsroom

Source: PRNewswire

More News in this Category