What a mistake designing the phone system to allow spoofed numbers

[Eug]

If there is a human voice on the other end, my wife takes my kids' annoying noisy music-making toys or sing-a-long toys and plays them into the phone until they hang up.

Her favourite is 3 motorized little chicks singing the B-52s. We also have a motorized bunny that claps its front paws and sings "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands." Just that line. Over and over again.

We used to hate our relatives for buying those toys, but now we like them. They have come in very useful.

 

[Auric]

Plus since the modem is voice capable they get a nice woman saying not to call back.

Protip: use the Intercept SIT to reduce call backs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_information_tones

 

[OverVolt]

What a mistake designing the internet with like no security whatsoever.

 

[1sikbITCH]

Yeah I don't get how it's even possible, as the info is programmed into the phone switch by the telco. So to me the network should use that and only that. Or maybe some telcos just don't care and will let customers put whatever they want.

Speaking of hacking voice mail, we sometimes get automated emails at work for that every now and then if one of our customers gets hacked. We need to go in the switch and restrict toll calls on their line until they get their PBX/IVR fixed. People will hack in and get an outside line then start making overseas calls.

My office has been one of those customers who got hacked. They called in and started checking extensions until they found one with no password on the VM. Then they had access to the phone system and were able to make overseas calls. The phone company blocked long-distance calls until tech support could come out and fix it.
Similar to your bank calling to ask about an unusual charge on your credit card, the phone company saw the abnormal activity and called us.

 

[Perknose]

Sorry, Craig, I was looking for a date.

You never respond to my posts.

You hate my cats.

I don't hate your cats, highland. You. I hate you. And not for any particular reason, either. So there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing, I say, NOTHING! :ninja:

 

[highland145]

I don't hate your cats, highland. You. I hate you. And not for any particular reason, either. So there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing, I say, NOTHING! :ninja:

None of that is important. Do you/would you love and accept my cats? Nothing else is relevant.

 

[Perknose]

None of that is important. Do you/would you love and accept my cats? Nothing else is relevant.

I feel closer to you already. :wub:

 

[highland145]

Of course you do. I'm awesome.:biggrin:

 

[MustISO]

https://www.nomorobo.com/

 

[Perknose]

Of course you do. I'm awesome.:biggrin:

The delusions coming more often now, are they? I told you generics wouldn't do the trick.

 

[Phoenix86]

They didn't have to do that, and it lets telemarketers get away with a lot.

Today I got a strange call. I answered and there was a sort of female falsetto voice of someone saying they are very busy and I called them, and hung up.

Call return showed 408-534-1275; calling that, it's a disconnected number.

Googling it found nothing, no reports from others complaining about the number.

They sold caller ID as a feature. Of course business really didn't like this, none of them did. More respectable ones wanted to hide their DID numbers but caller ID prevented this.

Since they couldn't simply hide their direct numbers they need the ability to list another number, generally their main trunk. The phone company was more than happy to help. For a fee. Double dipping on the charges and undermining the cID service others were paying for.

Eventually they had the ability to provide any number for cID, typically 000-000-0000 or straight 8s, or completely spoof a real number. Fast forward to today and this isn't even a charged service (neither is cID).

IIRC there were a number of FTC suits around it.

 

[Phoenix86]

I get security systems automated calls like every other day. I say "yes" in order to talk to someone and when I ask to be removed from the call list for the 20th time they just hang up on me. Cunts.

Never say yes. It's been a long time, but companies used to record that and chop it into an agreement for service. Slamming, changing your phone service w/o your approval. I expect it'll make a return in some form sooner or later, just not phone service.

 

[John Connor]

Protip: use the Intercept SIT to reduce call backs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_information_tones

Have a recoding of that too!

 

[John Connor]

https://www.nomorobo.com/

I could have sworn I tried this like last year and they didn't support Comcast. Now they do so I'm trying this.

 

[highland145]

The delusions coming more often now, are they? I told you generics wouldn't do the trick.

Legend in my own mind. That's all that matters.

 

[Perknose]

https://www.nomorobo.com/

What I use. Free, and works like a charm.

 

[Perknose]

Legend in my own mind. That's all that matters.

I still don't think that Brazilian Lithium is a good idea. Still wearing your helmet?

 

[Jeeebus]

You can always play dumb and trick them into giving you information as to who they are. Then she them for your free $500 under the federal statute (and possibly other damages/fees under your state equivalent).

 

[John Connor]

I could have sworn I tried this like last year and they didn't support Comcast. Now they do so I'm trying this.

Now I know what happened. I believe Comcast wasn't supported when I tried this, or you needed to use some stupid smartphone app. I don't have a smartphone. :\ But now I see I don't need a smartphone and configured advanced call-forwarding in Comcast.

 

[ComputerWizKid]

The best one's are when they use your own number and hack your voice mail. It is password protected, right? :twisted:

They just use VOIP to do this. I run a netbook connected to a dial-up USB modem that decodes the Caller-ID and sends it to a program called PhoneTray by Traysoft. Progie was $30, but well worth it. I blocked a lot of numbers thus far. All you hear is one ring and click. Plus since the modem is voice capable they get a nice woman saying not to call back.

The worst offenders go on my call screening list. Comcast allows 25 numbers I think and 1-800 numbers. I use it sparely.

Lol! People still use PhoneTray
I used to also before they started charging for it then I found CallClerk which in my opinion is better

I use a program called CallClerk
It is much better then PhoneTray but it costs $39