Re: Falsified caller IDs (was Re: [ot] Busted a telemarketer!)

Kenneth Brody wrote:
> What I'd like to know is how they convinced the telco to pass false
> caller ID data to the recipient.  (I sometimes get "999-999-9999".)

Some classes of phone service allow (or even require) the CPE
(customer provided equipment) to furnish the CallerID information.

This is very useful in the case where a bank of outgoing lines
is used to make calls, but the company wants the main incoming
number to show on the CallerID so that callees know who is calling
and where to call back.

Needless to say, it's also useful in cases where a boiler-room
calling operation wants to appear to be some other company,
and/or show a number that can not be called back.

Yet another useful bit of technology spoiled by telemarketers,
spammers, and other swindlers of various sorts.


-- 
Don Wannit <edb2000 -at- spamcop.net>
A paid SpamCop user since 1999