Bridgestone/Firestone Cautions Consumers About Refund Scam May 14, 2002 -- To date, we are aware of seven consumers located in the states of Indiana, Louisiana, California, Connecticut, New York and Alabama who have recently been contacted by phone and advised they were eligible or qualified for a refund under the Firestone voluntary recall which was completed last year. Even though none of these consumers owned the affected Firestone tires or requested a refund they were asked to provide personal information - including social security number, address confirmation and bank account numbers to complete the refund process. This activity is a fraud. Neither Bridgestone/Firestone nor its representatives contact consumers by phone for information of a personal nature. Both the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators and the Better Business Bureau are aware of these fraudulent telephone inquiries and are investigating. We thank the consumers who have brought this issue to our attention and encourage anyone who may be contacted by someone identifying themselves as a Firestone representative requesting personal information to contact Phonebusters National Call Center at 1-888-495-8501 or their local State Attorney General offices, Better Business Bureau or Bridgestone/Firestone's consumer affairs hotline number at 1-800-367-3872. As a reminder, never provide personal information to anyone you do not know.