Life Wireless Adds New Database to its Fraud-Prevention Toolkit

COVINGTON, Ga., Aug. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Life Wireless, a Lifeline-supported provider of free and discounted cell phone service, is now screening applicants with a new database designed to prevent customers from obtaining government-subsidized service from more than one carrier.

Life Wireless checks the database, developed by data processing firm CGM, to determine if a potential customer already receives phone service from other Lifeline providers. Federal rules limit this benefit to one per household. Life Wireless also employs a number of other databases to verify an applicant's identity and address and to determine if they meet certain income eligibility criteria, such as participation in a government assistance program.

"Life Wireless is committed to doing what it takes to eliminate fraud from the Lifeline program," said Jim Carpenter, a senior vice president at Life Wireless. "This database will help us fulfill our mission of providing phone service to those most in need, so they can stay in touch with their families, medical providers and potential employers, and contact 911 in an emergency."

Life Wireless also requires its sales representatives to complete a rigorous training course and conducts field audits to ensure that agents are adhering to company policies.

"Life Wireless is setting the industry standard when it comes to combatting Lifeline fraud and abuse," said Chuck Campbell, a partner at CGM. "Through their early adoption of this new database, their development of an industry leading agent training curriculum, and their implementation of a real-time, pre-sale enrollment validation platform, they have gone well beyond the compliance requirements set by the FCC."

Lifeline is a 30-year-old government program designed to keep basic telephone service within reach of low-income consumers. Additional details are found at www.lifelinesupport.org.

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SOURCE Life Wireless