15 AT&T; Workers Fired in Computerized Theft Plan

Fifteen employees of AT&T;’s national clearinghouse were fired following thefts of up to $500,000, a newspaper reported today.

The thefts of telephones, typewriters and other equipment were set up through a sophisticated computer scheme, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported in a copyright story. Sales employees would set up fake local buyers for shipments from the clearinghouse in suburban St. Louis, but the items actually went to friends and relatives, or were sold on the street at cut-rate prices, the newspaper said.

Jim Tucker, president of Local 6320 of the Communications Workers of America, said the union was told that AT&T; would seek criminal theft charges against the former employees, who worked at AT&T;’s National Service and Sales Center here.

Salespeople at the center handle purchases and service calls by telephone for consumers and small businesses throughout the United States.

“One young lady sent $40,000 worth of equipment--typewriters, telephones--to a car wash,” Tucker said. An accomplice signed for the items when they were delivered. The AT&T; worker then tried to sell them on the street for about $25 apiece, Tucker said.

AT&T; officials acknowledged in an earlier statement that the company was conducting an internal investigation involving “loss of revenue to the company” and that some sales employees had been fired. The company declined to give specifics “because of the continuing nature of the investigation.”

The internal investigation began in April after apparent irregularities were noted in AT&T;’s “Like for Like” program, in which equipment with service problems is replaced, union officials said. Persons with problems with their AT&T-purchased; telephone or other equipment can call the center and salespeople will dispatch replacement equipment.

In the theft scheme, replacement equipment was sent to people who had never made the initial purchases.