News

The Washington Network Educates Customers to be Aware of Fraudulent Bills From Telecommunications Carriers

 

ALEXANDRIA, VA — January 21, 2014 — The Washington Network, an industry leader in unified communications, announced today that the region’s businesses should be aware of fraudulent bills coming from companies posing as telecommunications carriers. Impersonators have been attempting to defraud organizations and The Washington Network is determined to make sure its customers are aware of this threat. The Department of Consumer Protection has launched an investigation into a company calling itself “UST” or “US Telecom” who has been claiming that the aforementioned invoices were for preventive maintenance on existing telephone systems. As a result, The Washington Network is warning all of its customers and the business community it serves.

Many organizations find themselves overworked, pressed for time and unable to catch every single detail. Unfortunately, this leaves room for scams like this to occur. The perpetrating company, “UST” had been posing as “USTelecom” in an effort to go unnoticed while collecting illegitimate revenues. The scheme exploited the commonplace nature of preventative maintenance invoices, which are regularly sent out by telecommunications carriers and broadband providers alike.

“The reason they were able to pull a stunt like this was because they took advantage of the fact that CEOs and other executives simply have too many things that require their attention,” stated RickEndres, Presidentof The Washington Network. “This is exactly why we meet with our customers on a regular basis to review, analyze and consult on their telecommunications and Internet connectivity bills. While we can see things like this coming from a mile away, our customers are too busy growing their businesses.”

The Washington Network has differentiated itself over the years by aligning its interests with its customers’ interests. For example, when The Washington Networkinitially sits down with a prospective customer, it first conducts an in-depth analysis of the existing network infrastructure, unnecessary lines, unnecessary billing and then interviews top level executives to gain a global understanding of what management is looking to achieve through the adoption of technology. Other business communications companies are much more transactional in nature and lack a relationship-based approach, in which both companies look out for one another.

“We’ve always looked to partner with our customers, so we can be their trusted resource, not just their technology supplier,” commented Mr.Endres. “Our goal is to share our expertise with everyone in our business community, and over the years we’ve found that whether we do business with someone or we just help them understand their own business communications infrastructure better, people tend to enjoy our interactions. As experts, we consider it our duty to watch out for scams like this and to make sure our community is protected.”

 

ABOUT The Washington Network, Inc.

 

Founded in 1987, The Washington Network, Inc. in Alexandria, Virginia, provides computer networks, VoIP phone systems, IT support and other technology solutions for associations and businesses in the Washington, DC Metro area.

Serving clients without a large in-house IT staff, The Washington Network lowers operating costs while increasing worker productivity. The company’s flat-rate managed services include remote network monitoring, preventive maintenance, help desk, redundant back-ups and on-site support.

A member of the Northern Virginia Technology Council and Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, The Washington Network has been honored as the Chamber’s Professional Service Business of the Year.

Through its strategic membership in the Technology Assurance Group, The Washington Network serves and supports clients with multiple locations across the U.S. and Canada.

The Washington Network is located at 30 South Quaker Lane, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. For more information on The Washington Network, call 703.212.7100 or visit www.WashingtonNetwork.com.

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