HOUSTON – A new type of phone scam called slamming is affecting Houston-area businesses.
Connie Ramirez, who owns Bay Area Exotic Pets, in La Porte, told Channel 2 it happened to her recently.
"Sabotage. I have no idea why, and it wasn't just us targeted. It was three other stores that we are aware of," Ramirez said.
Julia Loehr owns Paradise Fish and Pets, in Humble, and said it happened to her, too.
"I believe they are calling it slamming, where they take the phone line illegally without our permission," Loehr said.
Ramirez said it hurt her business when the phones wouldn't work for a couple of days.
"People would call to confirm if we had certain products or new customers. It affects our day to day business," Ramirez said.
The Federal Communications Commission said slamming is the illegal practice of switching a consumer's traditional wireline telephone company for local, local toll or long distance service without permission.
Loehr told Channel 2 her business took a hit a few weeks ago when calls weren't coming in.
"It was routed out into thin air, because if you called the phone number, it would ring and ring and ring," Loehr said.
It's unclear why someone would want to do this, and there has been no person identified responsible for the act.
The business owners Channel 2 spoke with said during the time their phones were slammed or calls weren't coming in, they didn't notice anything was stolen or business being diverted.