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