Newest cellular phone

One of the newest scams is "cellphone cloning"--the theft of a cellular phone identification code. Once thieves clone a code--embedding it in another cellular phone--calls charged to the victim's number can be made on that phone. By the time the theft is uncovered--anywhere from a few days to a month later--the bill may come to thousands of dollars. While there are no surefire ways to stop illegal cloning, there are things you or your clients can do to protect yourselves.

* Unscrupulous employees at cellular phone dealers can copy your mobile identification number (MIN) and electronic serial number (ESN) from your customer agreement and supply them to cloners. So, when choosing a dealer, stick to well-established companies and be especially wary of super deals--offers of prices that are too good to be true.

* Don't give valets or car wash attendants access to your car phone. They can read the ESN off the transceiver and recall the MIN from the keypad. Lock the phone away when you're away from your car.

* Cloners usually stalk areas near a business center or other places of high-density cellular use. They use electronic scanners that can read callers' ID numbers when a call is made. To avoid having your number scanned, wait until you're on the road before powering up your phone. Since mobile phones are usually wired to turn on with the ignition key, arrange to control yours from the keypad.

* Set the system select feature to "home only" if you don't need roamer service.

* Don't publish your number on employee lists or give it out indiscriminately.

* Monitor your bill. If the phone company charges extra for itemizing, get it--it's worth the cost.

* Some mobile phone carriers are more aggressive at fraud control, and dealers often know who they are. To find out which carriers are the best, consult an independent dealer--one not associated with a carrier.

* If you're victimized, the carrier may try to postpone reprogramming your phone for several days. Insist that the company do it immediately and that its representative come to you.

* If you're offered a cellular phone at way below market price, there is a good chance it's a clone. Call the carrier and report the incident. Although prosecutions are rare, it is a federal crime to buy a cloned phone.