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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

That’s One Hard-Core Sales Pitch, At&T;

Compiled From Wire Services

It wasn’t the “True Reward” AT&T customers had in mind.

AT&T Corp., in a mailing to 175,000 of its 17 million True Reward customers, mistakenly provided the toll-free number to a sex chat line.

Callers expecting to reach an AT&T operator were greeted instead by a sultry, breathy voice saying: “Are you ready to get naked? … If you want hard-core, uncensored, explicit sex now … then come and - ummm - take it!”

The number AT&T meant to provide allows customers to turn points earned by using long-distance service into free airline tickets and Disney merchandise.

But two digits were transposed in a printing error, yielding the number to a $2.98-a-minute chat line operated by Los Angeles-based Amtec Communications. Callers are billed only after listening to the introduction and entering a credit card number.

Donna Alexander, an AT&T spokeswoman in Philadelphia, was unable to say how many of the True Reward customers reached the wrong number. But she said AT&T has heard plenty from some who did.