Caller ID Spoofing

[kelly]

Caller ID scammers plan to do a number on you

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-07-...r-id-scam_x.htm

[kimmer]

Well, drats. The criminal element always seems to be thinking, don't they? Too bad they don't use these skills for legit purposes.

Our cell phone is Verizon and recently we've been receiving dozens of unknown calls. Some are ID blocked (we don't answer those). Others are supposed legit numbers, but when I don't know the number I let it go to the message center -- they never leave a message. I have done a reverse lookup on those numbers and they are always from companies we've never done business with, or they are "protected" numbers. I've never thought about letting Verizon know about them -- until now.

QUOTE

Getting an unlisted telephone number and signing up for the Federal Trade Commission's Do Not Call registry may reduce the likelihood of getting these calls.

Wellllll ... we had unlisted in CA and that never made a dent in the junk calls. The "Do Not Call" registry stopped the legit junk calls -- but not the true junk calls.

[Bruce_F]

Phone scammers will always find new ways to beat the system.

The best protection for anyone answering a call purporting to be legitimate and asking for sensitive information is to ask for a number to call them back. I've been protecting myself that way since before caller ID existed.

[dolphin]

QUOTE

Wellllll ... we had unlisted in CA and that never made a dent in the junk calls. The "Do Not Call" registry stopped the legit junk calls -- but not the true junk calls.

I had an unlisted and unpublished phone number a few years ago until one day I got a call from a person asking questions about my neighbor. I asked the caller how they had gotten MY phone number. They said they had gotten it off the web by using one of the phone #, address lookup programs. I did not answer any of their questions.

I checked the newest phone directory and found that my number was published. I  called the telephone company and asked them who had authorized them to list and publish my number because I certainly hadn't. Needless to say, they could not tell me. I decided to due a bit of detective work and found a phone directory that was two years old that had my number in it. I immediately filed a claim with the phone company (AllTel), requesting they reimburse me the fees I had been paying to be unlisted and unpublished ($2 a month I believe). They did so without a fuss.

The bottom line is that nothing is sacred anymore. Even if your unlisted, there are ways to get your phone number. I believe the crooks have found a way to circumvent the Do Not Call list.

My 2 cents!!!

[sandbox]

We've had to dump a long held unlisted number because Verizon somehow released their unlisted numbers into the public and the faxes and calls would never stop.

The advantage of VoIP is that you control all aspects of your phone, from your phone or from a website. My phone can just say "Howdy" in your caller ID or nothing at all. VoIP thus far has been a success story!  


   
Basic Features (all included free)
VoicePulse service already includes every feature you're used to paying for:

    * CallerID with Name
    * Call Waiting with CallerID
    * Call Transfer
    * Return Call *69
    * 3-way Calling


Advanced Features (all included free)
VoicePulse service also includes features you won't find on your traditional phone:


    * Enhanced Voicemail
    * Online Account Center
    * Phone Shortcuts

      Ringing & Dialing
    * 7-Digit Dialing
    * Contact Lists
    * Distinctive Ring
    * Speed Dial

      Privacy & Blocking:
    * Anonymous Call Block
    * CallerID Block
    * Directory Assistance Block
    * Do Not Disturb
    * Filters
    * International Call Block
    * Telemarketer Block

      Forwarding
    * Call Forward
    * Line Unavailable Forward
    * Filters
    * Call Hunt / Find Me
    * Multi-Ring

      Other
    * Bandwidth Saver


    * Virtual Numbers
    * Additional Lines
    * Conference Rooms
    * Open Access (Softphone)

[kelly]

Phishing Scam Calls on VoIP Phones

http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,...l_dnxnws,00.asp

[Parker]

i use Skype when i want to make a prank phone call
because the caller ID for all skype accounts is 000-012-3456

FYI

My SkypeIn number (954-889-7222) which i pay 38 bucks a year for doesn't come up.
This is just a way people can scam on the amateur level and beat people who don't answer private calls and require you to add a *82.

take care y'all,
parker

[kimmer]

QUOTE(gailwin @ Jul 12 2006, 12:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

i use Skype when i want to make a prank phone call

  Parker, please tell us (okay, me) that you are kidding. Right?  

[sandbox]

QUOTE(kelly @ Jul 11 2006, 11:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Phishing Scam Calls on VoIP Phones

http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,...l_dnxnws,00.asp

Thanks kelly, that's good to know...... though I doubt we would be open for such a scam here. I'll pass it on though, just to give the less skeptical a heads up!

[Gary S]

I have a standard line for any calls asking for anything....

"I'm sorry but I don't do solicitations over the phone." I think a request for information in writing is always appropriate. Then I hang up.

I also never give my Social Security number to any one, not even the last 4 numbers. Not even to my hospital.

As far as caller id is concerned, it's a nice feature but unreliable so beware.

[Xairbusdriver]

If email spoofing is possible with 36+ letters and numbers, how much easier it must be to spoof a phone number ( and call all every conceivable one ) with only 10 digits to manipulate. Who cares if it's listed or not. Caller ID is quickly becomeing useless because of VoIP and spoofing, hopefully, Call Blocking will continue to work, but like SPAM filters, there are too many ways for the caller to simply change the ID...

We simply don't answer unknow ID's anymore. Except that our cell phones are now coming through as "Unknown Caller"! At least we know each others cell phone numbers...