| Spoofing refers to the ability to disguise | | | | boxes that rely on caller identification for |
| the originating caller identification number | | | | authentication. For example, Secure Science |
| when placing a telephone call. The calling | | | | Corporation discovered that hackers could use |
| party may select an alias or dummy number to | | | | caller ID spoofing to break into the voice |
| appear on the called party telephone display. | | | | mailboxes of over 15 million subscribers of |
| | | | wireless service provider T-Mobile. The |
| Proponents of this technology laud its uses | | | | company scrambled to add an optional pin code |
| for law enforcement and private | | | | authentication to thwart tampering. |
| investigators. They claim the technology | | | | |
| protects agents from being discovered in | | | | Criminal elements could utilize caller ID |
| undercover operations. Agents can freely make | | | | spoofing to reverse the tables on law |
| pretext calls to criminal elements by using | | | | enforcement, harass victims and break into |
| caller ID spoofing. A pretext call is one | | | | interactive voice response systems that use |
| that allows law enforcement to solicit | | | | the caller's phone number as authentication. |
| information over the telephone by | | | | A child molester could contact a home and |
| representing themselves as someone else. | | | | disguise number as a parent's work number. An |
| | | | alarm company or emergency response dispatch |
| Caller ID spoofing is now marketed by a | | | | could be contacted and reassured of false |
| number of websites to any business or | | | | alarm by a burglar breaking into a premise. |
| individual who wishes to subscribe to the | | | | |
| service. Individuals can hide or mask the | | | | Methods and kits on how to emulate and |
| call origin with whatever number they desire. | | | | display spoofed caller ID messages are now |
| This guarantees anonymity. Collection | | | | available on the Internet. Anyone with a |
| agencies or government tax agencies often | | | | general understanding of the concept and a |
| find it difficult to reach defaulters. This | | | | compatible modem can construct a device that |
| service could help these companies contact an | | | | will provide caller ID spoofing. |
| individual using call screening. | | | | |
| | | | In the end, caller ID spoofing, like any |
| Critics of the caller ID spoofing claim that | | | | other technology does have some merit |
| using this VoIP phone service makes it easy | | | | especially for law enforcement. However this |
| for scam artists to make it appear that they | | | | technology is very easy to use unethically |
| are calling from another phone number. | | | | and perhaps criminally. The lesson here is |
| | | | don't trust caller id display. If you are |
| Jokesters could masquerade their caller ID as | | | | unsure of the caller id information of a |
| The Oval Office, Ed McMahon or Paris Hilton. | | | | suspicious caller, take the number down, |
| Hackers and con artists could utilize | | | | return the call or alert authorities. |
| spoofing to break into unsecured voice mail | | | | |