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From: mgrant@MIMSY.UMD.EDU (Michael Grant)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re:  Cellular Fraud
Message-ID: <8705312136.AA01347@mimsy.umd.edu>
Date: Sun, 31-May-87 17:36:41 EDT
Article-I.D.: mimsy.8705312136.AA01347
Posted: Sun May 31 17:36:41 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 3-Jun-87 03:14:11 EDT
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Excuse me...YOU ARE WRONG!

The Electronic Serial Number is an 8 digit Hexidecimal number.  It is not
easily changed.  Both the MIN, (Mobil Id Number, your phone number) and the
ESN are sent out when you press the send key.  Your MIN is easily changed
by reprogramming your phone, but the ESN is not easily changed.  To change
your phone number, both the phone, and the cell system must be changed.

Depending on the cell system you are trying to commit fraud on, you may
get several months of free calls, or just one.  If you are using one of
the systems that participate in the fraud detection systems in use, (the
name slips my mind at the moment), your service will be cut off after the
first fraudulent call--in all of those systems.

You may have gotten the 5 digit code from the lock feature that comes with
most cell phones these days.  This is just a security feature to keep
your phone from being used while it's unattended.  It has nothing to do
with the cell system itself.  My phone only has a 3 digit security code.
I usually see this security code set to the last n digits of the phone's
phone number.
-Mike