Joseph H Moore

US Patent:

59536535, Sep 14, 1999

Filed:

Jan 28, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/789927

Inventors:

Charles A. Josenhans - Redmond WA
Shawn M. Waliser - Snoqualmie Pass WA
Joseph B. Moore - Lynnwood WA

Assignee:

MediaOne Group, Inc. - Englewood CO
U S West, Inc. - Denver CO

International Classification:

H04M 166

US Classification:

455410

Abstract:

A method and system for detecting and preventing a fraudulent request for mobile telephone service to be provided to a mobile subscriber by one of a plurality of serving carrier mobile networks in one of a plurality of roaming markets subject to fraud includes a first database storing home/serving market identification codes and a second database storing authorized subscriber identification data. A monitoring device monitors communication data in response to a power-on signal transmitted by the mobile telephone unit. A central server then determines if the subscriber is authorized to receive service in the roaming market based on the communication data, the home/serving market identification codes stored in the first database, and the authorized subscriber identification data stored in the second database. The home carrier mobile network can then prevent the subscriber from obtaining service in the roaming market or any other market thereafter if the subscriber is not authorized to receive service in that roaming market by updating data stored in a subscriber profile database to reflect the subscriber must be routed to customer service upon placing an outgoing call following the power-on signal.