Just because a criminal is behind bars does not mean that he or she cannot continue the life of crime, but in a different way then one might expect.

Consider this scenario: Your home phone rings and the caller ID shows an ‘888’ number. Once you have answered the call a taped message states that you have received a call from an inmate. The message will continue by asking that you press a number on the phone to accept the call. By doing this you are opening a can of worms that could end up costing you several hundred dollars in phone calls that you did not make.

Here’s another scenario: A scam occurs when unsuspecting phone users talk to an inmate and that criminal requests that they press *-7-2 on the phone keypad. That code gives the inmate access to the phone by beginning a call-forwarding service. Essentially, that code turns the phone line over to the control of the inmate to make calls anywhere he or she chooses.

Anyone who thinks they might have been a scam victim should first inspect their phone bill to see if there are charges to ‘Correctional Billing Services,’ which is run by a company named Securus. That company provides phone services for inmates.

Recently, Florida prison inmates racked up over $50,000 in long distance phone charges that were billed to unsuspecting victims.

Those that discover they have become a victim should call the company listed on your phone bill and request that the charges be reversed. If that request is refused then they should contact the local phone company and the Better Business Bureau. Additionally, it is recommended that victims contact the jail or prison where the calls originated and notify the authorities so the facility managers can begin their own investigation.