AMERITECH CELLULAR ANNOUNCES NEW PROTECTION FOR CUSTOMERS

Cellular phone companies around the nation absorb about $1 billion in fraudulent phone calls annually.

To help defray those costs, Ameritech Cellular is introducing a new form of cellular phone protection.

The CloneBuster is a new program that tracks customer usage and service patterns without using a PIN number. It will be phased in through Oct. 31 as PIN numbers are gradually removed from accounts.

"Besides being the most advanced fraud protection technology available, the beauty of CloneBuster is that it doesn't require any action, additional charges or equipment purchase on the part of the customers," said John E. Rooney, president of Ameritech Cellular Services.

The CloneBuster uses military technology to encode the numbers from a cellular phone and track usage. PIN numbers were introduced in February to help reduce fraud charges. They helped cut the costs by 95 percent locally, said Donna Hanschen.

Ameritech wants to maintain a high level of security and focus for its customers. Customers will know that the PIN is not required when they no longer hear the double beep that prompted entering the four-digit number, she said.