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DOZENS of suspected criminals in Germany found out that their telephones were being tapped by security services when charges for the eavesdropping appeared on their phone bills last week. The error, which was put down to a software glitch, came to light when one customer complained about charges for calls to a mysterious number on his bill. One man was asked for €15.35 to pay for 53 taps in less than a month. Calls to the number were answered with a voice telling the customer they lacked authorisation. Security sources confirmed nearly 50 people had been inadvertently invoiced for the cost of the eavesdropping. The authorities immediately contacted the phone company, O2, in Munich, which stopped the delivery of other bills that were ready to be sent out.