On Fri, 18 Jun 2004, Fred Cisin wrote:
> > That configuration probably only worked on a specific brand of phone
> > system, and only if configured to allow any user to trunk transfer an
> > outside caller to an outbound trunk. The # would (I assume) tell the
> > phone system to outdial the 0 and not wait for any further digits.
>
> As stated, it won't work on ANY system.
But then, this scam was originally started by inmates calling businesses
from jail, and I think it morphed into people thinking it could work on
any phone, which is just an example of the ignorance of the masses. It
CAN work on a system that has the capabilities and is properly programmed.
But this is perhaps less than .1% of all existing phone system
installations.
> What it's based on is:
> 1. get the recipient to enable "three way calling" (often by a hook flash)
> 2. get the recipient to dial 9 for an outside line
> 3. get the recipient to connect with an operator
> 4. get the recipient to get off the three way call
I should mention that in my home you ARE required to dial a 9 to get an
outside line :) Furthermore, my PBX is configured for trunk-to-trunk
calling, but this is so I can make calls from a payphone through the
toll free number that rings into my auto attendant system and have it
charged to my home phone. However, my voicemail is password protected,
and no one in my household is dumb enough to dial 9 0 # for some random
"phone company employee" (and it won't work anyway based on the class of
service I have programmed for the normal extensions throughout the house).
> An easier way to do the exact same scam is to call
> Microsoft, and say, "Hi, this is Bill Gates. I'm
> at Starbucks and my cell battery is dead, so I have
> to use the payphone. Would you connect me to an
> outside line?"
Except that as I stated before, most phone systems are configured to not
allow a regular phone station the ability to transfer an incoming trunk
call to an outgoing trunk (precisely for reasons of fraud). But, with
some phone systems, if you get transfered to an inside party and then have
that party transfer you back to the operator, chances are your call type
will now show as an internal call, and the operator or receptionist may
think you are an employee calling from within the office. You can then
"social engineer" them into outdialing a call for you.
But with tolls so cheap today, it seems it's quite a waste of time to go
through all that trouble just to make a call.
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
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Received on Sat Jun 19 2004 - 02:14:36 BST