Bell Atlantic NYNEX Mobile See's 70% Decrease In Fraud Losses Thanks To High-Tech Solutions

Bell Atlantic NYNEX Mobile See's 70% Decrease In Fraud Losses Thanks To
High-Tech Solutions

Aggressive Work with Law Enforcement Nets More Than 390 Arrests

March 3, 1997

CTIA WIRELESS '97 SAN FRANCISCO -- The implementation of
Authentication and RF Fingerprinting technology has led to significant
decreases in cellular fraud for Bell Atlantic NYNEX Mobile. Since May
of 1996, when the company led the industry in launching Authentication
service, Bell Atlantic NYNEX Mobile has seen an overall fraud decrease
of 70 percent month over month; specifically, a 74 percent decrease in
home fraud and a 57 percent decrease in roaming fraud.

In addition, Bell Atlantic NYNEX Mobile works with law enforcement
agencies to pursue and prosecute cloners and distributors of cloned
phones and equipment. Last year, the company's efforts netted more
than 390 arrests, and the recovery of more than 110,000 stolen
cellular phone number/serial number combinations. The company also
assists in prosecuting cellular thieves to the fullest extent of the
law. One case resulted in a six year federal jail sentence and more
than $97,000 in ordered restitution to Bell Atlantic NYNEX Mobile and
other carriers.

"While we are extremely encouraged by the decreases we've seen, we
cannot eliminate fraud on our own, especially roaming fraud," said
Nick Arcuri, vice president-fraud control. "We are actively
encouraging our roaming partners to join us in the fight by exchanging
fraud information and by implementing solutions such as networking of
authentication and RF Fingerprinting systems."

Bell Atlantic NYNEX Mobile's aggressive fraud prevention plan is based
on a three-pronged approach -- prevention, detection, and prosecution.

Fraud prevention centers around implementing network solutions to stop
fraud before it affects the customer. Authentication and RF
Fingerprinting technology deployments are the cornerstones of this
approach. Since last May, the company has rolled out Authentication
and RF Fingerprinting technology in all its major markets. Nearly
two million Bell Atlantic NYNEX Mobile customers are protected by
Authentication and RF Fingerprinting when in the Bell Atlantic NYNEX
Mobile footprint or when roaming in markets where the company has
interconnected its fraud protection services with other carriers.

The second approach to fighting cellular fraud is early detection.
The company's in-house fraud task force uses sophisticated
fraud-detection software to alert customers and shut down cloners
quickly.

Lastly, Bell Atlantic NYNEX Mobile aggressively pursues cellular
cloners and dealers of stolen equipment. The company provides
training, support, and assistance to local, state, and federal law
enforcement officials and employs private investigation firms to
jointly combat the problem.

Bell Atlantic NYNEX Mobile is the
largest wireless service provider on
the East Coast and the second largest in the United States. The
company owns and operates the most extensive network in the east,
covering 111,000 square miles, and the largest chain of wireless
retail outlets offering a full range of wireless personal
communications services, including voice, data and paging. Based in
Bedminster, NJ, Bell Atlantic NYNEX Mobile has 4.4 million customers
and 6,500 employees in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and,
through a separate subsidiary, in the Southwest. The company was
formed in July, 1995, by combining the cellular operations of Bell
Atlantic Mobile and NYNEX Mobile.

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