Wireless communication system for encrypting network information data to prevent access to fraudulent networks

A wireless communication system includes at least one wireless base station 122 having a processor 208 coupled to a transmitter, encrypting network identification data 330 for transmission to a remote, mobile communication unit 112. The unit 112 includes a receiver for receiving encrypted network identification data 340, from at least one of the base stations 122 and a processor 360 to decrypt the encrypted network identification data 340 in order to determine whether or not that the serving base station is a valid one. In this manner, fraudulent wireless base stations or fraudulent networks may be detected more readily.