Imagine opening your conferencing bill to find that $2,500 has been generated on your account in a single weekend. It’s your name, your dial-in numbers and even your passcode, but it wasn’t you on the line. Think this couldn’t happen to you? Think again.

Fraudulent usage has become prevalent enough in the conferencing world that PGi offers an “Enhanced Authentication” feature on its international automated GlobalMeet® service. Enhanced Authentication is mandatory for clients who have participants joining from Brazil, China, India and Malaysia. However, all GlobalMeet clients may subscribe to the feature – free of charge. Enhanced Authentication uses the following features to make it more difficult for fraudulent users to access a conference:

• A system-generated 10 digit random passcode for both the moderator and participant.
• Music on hold until moderator joins ensures conferences are not occurring without the presence of the moderator and moderator passcode. This feature will prevent fraudulent users from starting a conference even if the participant passcode has been compromised.
• A conference summary email will be sent to the moderator upon the conclusion of each conference. This email will alert the recipient if their passcode is used without their knowledge.
  
  Although conferencing fraud is more likely to occur on global accounts, these same features are also available on regular automated ReadyConference® for U.S. usage. Other precautionary steps include:

1)     Setting a Conference Security Code, in addition to your passcode, by pressing *31.

2)     Disabling International Dial-Out except when absolutely necessary.

3)     Not posting conference information in public locations or on social media sites.

4)     Changing your passcodes on a regular basis. Or, changing your Conference Security Code if you would like to maintain your same passcode.

5)     Deactivating any passcodes you are not using.

Uncovering the identity of an imposter is very difficult. Don’t wait for smoke to put out the fire. A little foresight now can save you big money later.

Let me help you protect your conferencing account. Was this information helpful to you? Please email me with your questions or stories at trisha.zimmerman@premiereglobal.com.