Take Preventive Measures to Avoid Access to Web Sites Triggering IDD Calls
Certain adult entertainment and electronic games web sites may trigger long distance calls by covertly or otherwise switching the call connection from Internet to IDD (please refer to the Annex for details). Consumers are advised to take precautions to avoid being charged IDD calls which they may thus make unknowingly.
Preventive Measures
OFTA strongly advises consumers to take the following preventive measures to avoid suffering financial loss, and for parents to protect their minors:-
- Internet users are advised to install IDD locking function in telephone lines and use this function when they visit web sites.
- Internet users should avoid downloading software of unknown origin from the web sites they visited.
- Internet users are advised to switch off their modems before they test and use downloaded software if their telephone lines do not have IDD locking function. If they use computers with built-in modems, they may consider removing telephone lines temporarily from the computers.
- Internet users are reminded to read all information carefully before clicking "Yes" because some web sites in fact contain explicit information or warning messages to tell the users that an IDD call will be made and payment will be made based on the IDD charges incurred. They need to understand that they are responsible for the long distance calls made from their telephone lines.
- When visiting web sites which use languages that they are not familiar with (such as Japanese and French), Internet users should think carefully before clicking "yes".
- Parents are advised to use special Internet filters which are designed to block out offensive material from the Internet. Software packages providing such filtering tools are available in the market.
- Parents are recommended to make sure that their children understand how to use the Internet with care. It is important for parents to be vigilant about their children's behaviour on the web and provide them with sufficient guidance and advice.
Annex
How Long Distance Calls Are Triggered
*Source of diagram : "Choice" magazine published by Consumer Council |
