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From: das@cs.ucla.edu (David Smallberg)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: New, Very Simple Phone Scam
Message-ID: <16509@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 28 Jan 91 19:48:44 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 76, Message 6 of 9


In article <16404@accuvax.nwu.edu> leichter@lrw.com (Jerry Leichter)
writes:

[Phone scammers call random numbers and claim to be telco security
conducting a test.  Victim is told to say "yes" to the following call
asking approval of a 3rd-party charge.]

>If the victim disagrees, the scammers will often threaten to cut off
>phone service.

How foolish of them -- I'll bet fewer people would think something was
amiss if instead the scammers said, "Well, in that case we'll have to
schedule a visit to your premises.  During what four-hour period will
an adult be present, etc.".  The hassle involved would probably get
more victims to give in.

Are any telcos planning to automate the third-party charge approval
call with a voice-recognition system, the way that many collect call
approvals are now done?  I imagine there's plenty of scam potential
there, if so.


David Smallberg, das@cs.ucla.edu, ...!{uunet,ucbvax,rutgers}!cs.ucla.edu!das


[Moderator's Note: Illinois Bell has collect and third-number charge
approval completely automated. After dialing the number and the 0 for
operator assistance a recording says "to place a collect call dial 11;
to place a third-number call, dial 12; otherwise dial 0 once again to
reach an operator." You then record your name, are placed on hold
while the request is verified, then connected (or disconnected!) as
appropriate.  The other nice thing we have here is we can have our
lines set to automatically deny collect/third number billings if
desired. The IBT/AT&T data base will tell operators everywhere that
you do not accept such calls without the operator even bothering to
call you and ask.   PAT]