Qwest Helps Protect Customers From Telephone and Internet Fraud [DENVER,CO]

Customer Protection Information Web Site Available at www.qwest.com

DENVER, April 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q - News) is launching an initiative to help customers identify possible telephone and Internet theft and fraud with the introduction of its "Customer Protection Information" Web site. Consumers lose billions of dollars each year due to telephone and Internet fraud, according to industry experts -- and that number is continuing to grow. The Qwest Web site is the first initiative in an ongoing customer education program aimed at providing customers with protective tools against fraud.
"Phone scams and Internet fraud are on the rise," said Ken Lane, spokesman for Colorado Attorney General Ken Salazar. "It is significant that major companies are dedicating time and resources to ensure that their customers don't become victims of a scam."

Available on www.qwest.com, the new site provides customers with helpful and easy-to-understand information and preventive tips. The site identifies and clarifies a variety of scams and fraudulent practices targeted at both residential and small-business customers. For example, this site offers customers helpful hints to protect their telephone bills from unauthorized charges and/or services, computers from harmful viruses, and personal information from theft on the Internet.

Qwest receives thousands of fraud-related inquiries from customers each year and has found that customers need to be especially watchful of the following 10 fraudulent schemes:

- Voice Mail Scam
- Slamming and Cramming
- Caribbean Dialing Scam
- Identity Theft
- Wireless Cloning
- Internet Modem Scam
- 9,0,#
- Call Forwarding Scam
- Collect Calls From Mexico Scam
- Calling Card Scam

from Yahoo!