Anonymous Caller? New Service Says, Not Any More
By Kevin Poulsen February 16, 2009 | 11:43:10 PM
Categories: Hacks and Cracks
A new service set for launch Tuesday allows cellphone users to unmask the Caller ID on blocked incoming calls, obtaining the phone number, and in some cases the name and address, of the no-longer-anonymous caller.
The service, called TrapCall, is offered by New Jersey's TelTech systems, the company behind the controversial SpoofCard Caller ID spoofing service. The new service is likely to be even more controversial — and popular.
"What’s really interesting is that they’ve totally taken the privacy out of Caller ID," says former hacker Kevin Mitnick, who alpha-tested the service.
TrapCall's basic unmasking service is free, and includes the option of blacklisting unwanted callers by phone number. It also allows you to listen to your voicemail over the web. It's currently available to AT&T and T-Mobile subscribers, with support for the other major carriers due within weeks, says TelTech president Meir Cohen.
"It’s not meant for spies, it’s not meant for geeks, it’s not meant for any specific target audience,” Cohen says. "Everybody hates getting blocked calls, and in this day and age they want to know who’s calling, and they want the option of taking the call or not."
Consumers have had the option of shielding their number from display since Caller ID was introduced in the early 1990s, either by dialing *-6-7 before placing a call, or asking their carrier for blanket anonymity for their line. But TrapCall takes advantage of a loophole in Caller ID blocking that’s long benefited corporate phone customers: Namely, calls to toll-free numbers are not blocked, because those calls are paid for by the recipient.
TrapCall instructs new customers to reprogram their cellphones to send all rejected, missed and unanswered calls to TrapCall’s own toll-free number. If the user sees an incoming call with Caller ID blocked, he just presses the button on the phone that would normally send it to voicemail. The call invisibly loops through TelTech’s system, then back to the user’s phone, this time with the caller’s number displayed as the Caller ID.
The caller hears only ringing during this rerouting, which took about six seconds in Wired.com's test with an iPhone on AT&T. Rejecting the call a second time, or failing to answer it, sends it to the user’s standard voicemail.
The service comes as bad news to advocates for domestic violence victims, who fought hard to make free blocking an option in the early days of Caller ID. "I have huge concerns about that,” says Cindy Southworth, director of technology at the National Network to End Domestic Violence, in Washington, D.C. Southworth fears that abusers will use the new service to locate partners fleeing a violent relationship.
In a notable case in 1995, a Texas man named Kevin Roberson shot his ex-girlfriend to death after locating her through the Caller ID device on her roommate's phone line.
The problem is serious, because domestic violence victims who've fled an abusive relationship often have to stay in contact with their abuser by phone, particularly in situations where the former couple share custody of their children,” Southworth says.
"The judge will require that the victim contact the offender to discuss where they’re dropping the children off, for example," says Southworth. "And there’s often court-mandated phone contact between the abusive partner and the victim." In those cases the victims often rely on Caller ID blocking to keep their former partner from knowing where they’re living.
Cohen dismisses that concern, arguing that Caller ID blocking was never secure to begin with. "It’s very simple for somebody to forward a phone to an 800 number in their office, and right there, they’re picking up the phone number of the person who is calling," he says. At least now the false illusion of Caller ID privacy will be dispelled by TrapCall, he adds.
In addition to the free service, branded Fly Trap, a $10-per-month upgrade called Mouse Trap provides human-created transcripts of voicemail messages, and in some cases uses text messaging to send you the name of the caller — information not normally available to wireless customers. Mouse Trap will also send you text messages with the numbers of people who call while your phone was powered off, even if they don’t leave a message.
With the $25-a-month Bear Trap upgrade, you can also automatically record your incoming calls, and get text messages with the billing name and street address of some of your callers, which TelTech says is derived from commercial databases.
TelTech is no stranger to controversy. Its Spoofcard product lets customers send any phone number they want as their Caller ID. Among other things, the spoofing service has been used by thieves to activate stolen credit cards, by hackers to access celebrities’ voicemail boxes, and by telephone hoaxsters to stage a dangerous prank called "swatting," in which they spoof an enemy’s phone number while calling the police with a fake hostage situation. The goal of swatting — realized in hundreds of cases around the country — is to send armed cops bursting into the victim's home.
Cohen’s company has cooperated in law enforcement investigations of Spoofcard abuse, which have led to several prosecutions and convictions. Despite the spoofing-linked crimes, he insists that most Spoofcard users are just privacy-conscious consumers, including celebrities, government officials, private investigators and even spousal abuse victims and shelters.
He also expects his new business will be good for his old one.
“The only way to block your number after this is released is to use Spoofcard,” he says with a laugh.
© 2008 CondéNet, Inc. All rights reserved.
I have an Idea about privacy protection. In many country sale personal information is illegal. But to track out who sold our information is not easy. If we give unique phone number to each registration. It will be easy to track which number was leaked. But who have so many numbers?
If we can create a PBX like software in our android phone. We can get unlimited extension numbers.
We can create a IVR like app, auto receive calls, prompt to input the extension number, If the extension number not match any number we have generated for any registration, then block the call. If it match then log which number called me use which extension number. If the caller got the extension number from some illegal way, We known who sold our information. So we can talk to a lawyer.
Buy a dedicate phone for untrusted usage, Install this software into it.
When we be asked to fill some registration form, Use this app to generate random extension number, and fill in the form.
The app will only receive calls input correct extension number.(Maybe we can set some white list for callerid)
Good idea
I don't think this will be possible with current SIM cards / how mobile operators like to operate / make money.
I think there was a phone years back that could take 2 SIMs and you could have a personal and a business SIM both in it with their own numbers.
In the meantime, the best thing you can do is use one of the online telephony companies (usually providing VoIP accounts) and get a pile of incoming numbers from them. You could then use their online control panel to divert all calls coming into each number to your mobile - but you would have to pay the divert to mobile call charge. It would let you see which number is being called / given out without your implied permission, but could be sore on your pocket.
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How the App works.
Identifies unknown callers immediately (Caller ID).
Spam, scam, or nuisance calls from call centers are automatically detected with the tellows app; unknown calls are displayed with a score from 1 (reliable) to 9 (unreliable) on your mobile screen, i.e. you can decide whether to answer or ignore calls from unknown numbers. In addition to the rating, you can know the caller's name, type, and location.
Number finder and unknown number information
Thanks to the large tellows community, you can find thousands of spam numbers and details to identify them. Our database is constantly updated - no more problems with scammers or telephone advertising!
Rate and comment on phone numbers.
Join us! Comment and rate unknown numbers, so we can prevent phone scams! Connect your account and enter the tellows world from any device.
Call blocker and personalized block list.
In the free version, you can manually block local calls.
In the Premium version, you can block calls using the local and community block list features. All currently classified dangerous numbers are stored in your phone and can be blocked even if the phone is offline, thanks to the updated local blacklist. The Premium version does not contain any advertisements.
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KnownCalls is the new ad-free and absolutely free call blocker for Android that helps fight spam calls while respecting your privacy.
With KnownCalls your phone will automatically reject calls from numbers not in your Phone book. It will save you time wasted on answering spam calls, and make you an uninteresting target for fraudsters.
Works against telemarketers, anonymous or hidden numbers, robocalls, spam or other unknown calls, and various kinds of scammers.
Click here to download from official website (extended version with SMS muting)
Click here to download from Google Play (no SMS muting)
==NO INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED==
The app doesn’t use external resources. It works solely with your device’s Phone book so your privacy is safe with KnownCalls!
Perfect for those who care about their digital imprint.
==WHY KNOWNCALLS IS BETTER==
1. Modern spammers usually call from different numbers each time, so adding each number to a block list might prove ineffective – next time they might use another number. KnownCalls blocks all unknown call numbers so it's not a problem any more.
2. Rejection of unknown callers is instantaneous because KnownCalls uses your device’s Phonebook only. Other call blocker apps usually work with a delay so you might be among earliest recipients that spam calls still get through to before being flagged as spammers.
3. 100% free. No hidden payments.
4. Absolutely no ads.
5. Extremely easy to use. 1 option to enable/disable blocking.
6. KnownCalls does not collect or send personal information or information on your phone calls anywhere - unlike other apps that use spam databases in the Internet and send your calls there too.
7. Installs well on almost any contemporary Android device.
STOP annoying robocalls or buzzing from call centers, telemarketers and fraudsters that always distract you when you're busy, that wake you up in the middle of the night, or intend to scam you.
Finally you can enjoy the silence – and be sure that trusted callers still get through!
Recommend KnownCalls to your family and friends – let them feel the tranquility of life without spam too!
==HOW IT WORKS==
* Download KnownCalls call blocker app from Google Play or our website and install it on your device.
* Turn on filtering with 1 click.
* Done! All unknown calls coming from numbers that are not in your Contacts or Favorites will be automatically rejected without bothering you.
==SPAM PROTECTION FOR EVERYONE==
The KnownCalls app is a perfect call blocker for
* Parental control: protect your kids by creating a whitelist of trusted numbers, and block calls from any other phone numbers.
* Public people: stop the flow of distracting phone calls while keeping accessibility for known callers.
* Businessmen: let KnownCalls automatically filter out spam call center buzzes, while still allowing calls from your Contacts.
* Senior protection: make sure scammers don’t get to take advantage of your vulnerable elderly by blocking calls from any unknown numbers.
==RECAP OF KNOWNCALLS==
The KnownCalls app is the unique combination of privacy protection, easy functionality and availability. It is free of charge. No Internet accessibility required!
KnownCalls does not gather, store, send or share your personal information.
For businessmen, politicians or public people with their phone number in public display. KnownCalls blocks unknown calls leaving you accessible by the rest of your contacts - customers, suppliers, authorities, etc.
Use KnownCalls call blocker if you are worried about the rise of scammers that could fraud your seniors or children: block all unknown calls from numbers not in the Phone book.
Accumulated effect: Even if you are assaulted with spam calls now, using KnownCalls will make you an uninteresting target for call centers over time.
Video:
@FelenaSoft Any plans of creating a root version of this app to 'give it' superpowers?
We do plan to have more features (like schedule or wrong number announcement instead of just rejection) in future releases but probably none of them would need root anyway. All the more reason to use KnownCalls!
FelenaSoft said:
We do plan to have more features (like schedule or wrong number announcement instead of just rejection) in future releases but probably none of them would need root anyway. All the more reason to use KnownCalls!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Complete and out-right rejection without notification or announcement is preferable.
rodken said:
Complete and out-right rejection without notification or announcement is preferable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for ideas!
If we're talking about notifications and announcements to a KnownCalls user, there are no announcements of rejected calls (no beeps or whatever) there now. The only notifications about rejected calls there are are entries in the phone's Call Log (or Journal, or Recents, or Dialer, or wherever they list your incoming/outgoing calls) - in Android 10 and 11 rejected calls can be hidden from it with a 'Hide from Call Log' option; in Android 12 and up they can't for now - but we're working on it.
If we're talking about notifications and announcements to a caller (aka spammer), they will get a busy tone from KnownCalls. But cell carriers sometimes offer this option to forward calls to another number, and you could use a non-existing one to have the spammers hear 'Number invalid' auto response and leave you alone.
Anyway, these all can be done without root.
FelenaSoft said:
Thank you for ideas!
If we're talking about notifications and announcements to a KnownCalls user, there are no announcements of rejected calls (no beeps or whatever) there now. The only notifications about rejected calls there are are entries in the phone's Call Log (or Journal, or Recents, or Dialer, or wherever they list your incoming/outgoing calls) - in Android 10 and 11 rejected calls can be hidden from it with a 'Hide from Call Log' option; in Android 12 and up they can't for now - but we're working on it.
If we're talking about notifications and announcements to a caller (aka spammer), they will get a busy tone from KnownCalls. But cell carriers sometimes offer this option to forward calls to another number, and you could use a non-existing one to have the spammers hear 'Number invalid' auto response and leave you alone.
Anyway, these all can be done without root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
[Feature Request] Complete Blocking of MMS on-demand.
Would be really cool if it could say a message such as
"The mobile number you are trying to reach is currently switched off".
It would be even cooler if it could in addition to the above and optionally say
"Please leave a short message with your name and purpose and we will have the message delivered!
It should then take a 15 or 20 second clip and send it by WhatsApp or Telegram or maybe even KnownCalls (whichever is configured) as a compressed audio clip.
Looks like a nice simple app, thanks for developing it!
How about adding private/hidden numbers to the blacklist?
Tomo123 said:
How about adding private/hidden numbers to the blacklist?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It should already be working. Any numbers not from the Contacts/Favorites are blocked, including hidden, private and what-not
Paparasee said:
Would be really cool if it could say a message such as
"The mobile number you are trying to reach is currently switched off".
It would be even cooler if it could in addition to the above and optionally say
"Please leave a short message with your name and purpose and we will have the message delivered!
It should then take a 15 or 20 second clip and send it by WhatsApp or Telegram or maybe even KnownCalls (whichever is configured) as a compressed audio clip.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the idea! Our team will give keep it in mind in KnownCalls' further developments.
Right now you can forward the 'blocked' call (any missed call, actually) to a non-existing number which will get the "Wrong number" voice message. You can do it with the help of your cell carrier, please contact them for conditions and cost. Besides, some carriers and third-party services offer a 'virtual secretary' thing that will speak to the caller instead of you and even send you a text transcription of the call.
rodken said:
[Feature Request] Complete Blocking of MMS on-demand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the idea! It's now added to our development ideas. Let's see if we can add this any time soon
FelenaSoft said:
View attachment 5689249 KnownCalls is the new ad-free and absolutely free call blocker for Android that helps fight spam calls while respecting your privacy.
With KnownCalls your phone will automatically reject calls from numbers not in your Phone book. It will save you time wasted on answering spam calls, and make you an uninteresting target for fraudsters.
Works against telemarketers, anonymous or hidden numbers, robocalls, spam or other unknown calls, and various kinds of scammers.
Click here to download from official website (extended version with SMS muting)
Click here to download from Google Play (no SMS muting)
==NO INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED==
The app doesn’t use external resources. It works solely with your device’s Phone book so your privacy is safe with KnownCalls!
Perfect for those who care about their digital imprint.
==WHY KNOWNCALLS IS BETTER==
1. Modern spammers usually call from different numbers each time, so adding each number to a block list might prove ineffective – next time they might use another number. KnownCalls blocks all unknown call numbers so it's not a problem any more.
2. Rejection of unknown callers is instantaneous because KnownCalls uses your device’s Phonebook only. Other call blocker apps usually work with a delay so you might be among earliest recipients that spam calls still get through to before being flagged as spammers.
3. 100% free. No hidden payments.
4. Absolutely no ads.
5. Extremely easy to use. 1 option to enable/disable blocking.
6. KnownCalls does not collect or send personal information or information on your phone calls anywhere - unlike other apps that use spam databases in the Internet and send your calls there too.
7. Installs well on almost any contemporary Android device.
STOP annoying robocalls or buzzing from call centers, telemarketers and fraudsters that always distract you when you're busy, that wake you up in the middle of the night, or intend to scam you.
Finally you can enjoy the silence – and be sure that trusted callers still get through!
Recommend KnownCalls to your family and friends – let them feel the tranquility of life without spam too!
==HOW IT WORKS==
* Download KnownCalls call blocker app from Google Play or our website and install it on your device.
* Turn on filtering with 1 click.
* Done! All unknown calls coming from numbers that are not in your Contacts or Favorites will be automatically rejected without bothering you.
==SPAM PROTECTION FOR EVERYONE==
The KnownCalls app is a perfect call blocker for
* Parental control: protect your kids by creating a whitelist of trusted numbers, and block calls from any other phone numbers.
* Public people: stop the flow of distracting phone calls while keeping accessibility for known callers.
* Businessmen: let KnownCalls automatically filter out spam call center buzzes, while still allowing calls from your Contacts.
* Senior protection: make sure scammers don’t get to take advantage of your vulnerable elderly by blocking calls from any unknown numbers.
==RECAP OF KNOWNCALLS==
The KnownCalls app is the unique combination of privacy protection, easy functionality and availability. It is free of charge. No Internet accessibility required!
KnownCalls does not gather, store, send or share your personal information.
For businessmen, politicians or public people with their phone number in public display. KnownCalls blocks unknown calls leaving you accessible by the rest of your contacts - customers, suppliers, authorities, etc.
Use KnownCalls call blocker if you are worried about the rise of scammers that could fraud your seniors or children: block all unknown calls from numbers not in the Phone book.
Accumulated effect: Even if you are assaulted with spam calls now, using KnownCalls will make you an uninteresting target for call centers over time.
View attachment 5689257View attachment 5689259View attachment 5689261View attachment 5689267
Video:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just found yall on here and sure glad I did. I rather french kiss a rattlesnake than get calls from the spam callers. I hope I downloaded all alright cause Im not to swift in the smartz trying to learn this tech stuff due to my age. I was born before a 8 track to say-lol
I downloaded the info to my phone and my wife tried to call me from her number that I have it added to my contacts but,it shows her number blocked and it wont ring on her end-it just goes direct to my voicemail. Can you please tell me if I have something wrong? I did uninstall the app and gonna reinstall it and try it again. I sure appreciate all the help.
Hey I guess I am blind as a bat. She reloaded it and then said I hit something called a default but ,it works good now. It recognized her number and it came through fine. I sure hope this does it,fingers crossed.
I’m using Truecaller for 10 years and I can confirm that it is NOT SAFE.
You install Truecaller. It forces you to make your phone and messaging default to Truecaller. Now you have shared all the phone numbers and messages with Truecaller. Within few days, you’ll notice more spam calls, sms and emails compared to not having Truecaller in first place.
This is era of Digital marketing. Businesses are being done online. There are product sellers who want to reach you to push their products but they don't know your number, profession and email address. They reach hackers or they themselves manage to get your contact information. Hackers hacks the data from Truecaller's server and sell them to these digital marketing guys. The data can contain your Phone number, Profession, messages, email address etc so that they can send you messages and will call you to sell their products. If you observe, Truecaller also gives an option to add your profession, email address, home address besides just phone number. Hackers and sellers got it all. You keep getting more and more spam calls, Emails and messages. If these spam call and messages bother you so much then Uninstall Truecaller and in few days you feel the difference, no more spam calls and messages.
Truecaller is created for business and its a company now. It takes all your contact information. Hackers get this information and sell it to businesses/buyers. You get more spam calls, emails and sms. To stop this you will have to pay for Truecaller premium. Nice business strategy.
In olden days, there was no Truecaller, if some one calls us and we determine its a spam caller, then we use to save his number with some stupid name, ignore, block or give them warning that we will report to police. Good olden days, your contact information was not being shared world wide. By installing Truecaller, you are inviting stress... more unwanted calls in unwanted time disturbing your sleep, leisure and peace of mind.
I can recommend Eyecon as an alternative to TrueCaller as it will not read all your messages plus hidden surprise, you find out!