Call Pumping (Traffic Pumping)

Traffic pumping exploits the access-charge system where long-distance carriers pay per-minute fees to local exchange carriers for connecting calls to their territory. Rural carriers often have higher access charges. Traffic pumping schemes involve a local carrier partnering with a service — typically a free conference call or chat line — that generates large call volumes to its numbers. The carrier and the service split the access fees that long-distance carriers are required to pay.

Although the parties on the aggregating side participate willingly, the ultimate cost is borne by long-distance carriers and eventually passed to consumers through higher rates. The FCC has taken enforcement action against the most egregious schemes, but subtler forms persist. For consumers, traffic pumping is the reason some 'free' conference-calling services use numbers in specific area codes.

A related abuse targets businesses by generating enormous volumes of inbound calls to a company's toll-free line, racking up termination charges. Businesses operating toll-free lines should monitor inbound-call volume for anomalies and have fraud-alert thresholds configured with their carrier.