Fraud plagues prepaid calling card market

Fraud plagues prepaid calling card market
By JOELLE TESSLER , AP Technology Writer, Technology / Telecom
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Good afternoon. I rather agree with the comments reported by Ms J. Tessler. Without going into details, we have exactly the same problems over here in France (hundreds of companies selling call cards, all offering extra minutes ..). The fact is that, just as an e.g. when you call from a home stand phone, or a phone booth, via a call back center, the last already charge you approx USD 1.00 - The call card company charges also a fee ..) So at the end of the day, you have bought a card at a rate of let's say USD 10.- with promissed 60 or more minutes towards so or so country, but in fact you only get usually a few minutes "free" call. I say, use the net to phone. At least you are not cheated (or ok less). Regards, Piuske

I really think the "prepaid cell phone" has only two real markets:
1) criminals, perverts and paranoids who want the annonimity of cash purchases to hide their identity from "big brother";
2) undisciplined people who cannot manage their own talking well enough to use conventional cell phone services... they need a phone that will limit their talking for them and make the costs highly visible (e.g. children, including immature teenagers!)

This is PRECISELY why these criminally fraudulant companies stay in business... most of those cheated cannot come forward and demand honest dealings, or they are too ashamed to.

Note: I'm speaking from the perspective of a US citizen. It may well be that 3rd world cell services are so lacking in infrastructure, or 3rd world countries are so lacking in financial responsibility laws, that prepaid calling is the only possibility. Sorry if I offended anyone from those countries... I guess this could be a "third" reason for such phones.