Verizon is asking the FCC to approve security measures that some customers might not like.



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Citing its desire to protect its customers from identity theft and other fraudulent activities, Verizon today announced that it was seeking FCC approval to lock all handsets it sold for 60 days. The operator says the criminals are targeting Verizon customers because it is the only major wireless service provider to unlock the devices as soon as they are sold. The advantage for customers is that once a phone is no longer owned by Verizon and that it belongs to the buyer, it can be used on any compatible network.

But Verizon says this policy allows criminals to hijack customer accounts and order phones for which they do not intend to pay. According to Big Red, these devices are then sold on the black market worldwide. According to the company, such incidents occur monthly at 7,000 Verizon customers. Verizon says it's going to lock the phones sold during a "60 day fraud proofing period". After 60 days, the phones will unlock automatically. The wireless service provider indicates that none of its customers has changed hands over the first 60 days after purchasing a new handset.

To make sure that it does not violate any law or regulation, Verizon asks the FCC to confirm that this plan complies with the "C blocking rules" introduced in 2007. The company notes that even If the FCC approves of this, the country's largest carrier will still have "the industry's most user-friendly unlocking policy". Verizon points out that its competitors lock their newly purchased handsets for a while and demand that they be fully refunded before unlocking them.

"We strongly believe that only real customers, not fraudsters, should be able to take their phones and wireless devices and use them on any compatible wireless network." We continue to support open devices and unlocked that can be used on other networks, this promise and we will continue to fight fraud and theft from our customers. "- Ronan Dunne, Executive Vice President, Group President, Verizon Wireless

Verizon says it has already improved the security of its stores and inventory and is now working to protect the "digital security" of its devices.

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