From: ptownson@eecs.nwu.edu (Patrick A. Townson)
Subject: Re: Anyone have a creative way of dealing with crank calls?
Organization: EECS Department, Northwestern University
Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1992 06:31:20 GMT

In article <92342.170758JDG111@psuvm.psu.edu> <JDG111@psuvm.psu.edu>
writes:

> How to beat crank calls...  Hmmm...

> If you are lucky enough to have call forwarding on your line, one simple way
> of throwing a crank caller off is to forward all your calls to a
> disconnected number at night.  Then, when the caller buzzes you the next
> time, all she/he hears is "The number you have dialed has been
> disconnected..."

Various problems with this:  Not all phone switches (assuming he has
call forwarding) will allow forwarding to disconnected or non-existent
numbers. The phone switch tries to set up the forwarding, tests for
supervision (or other factors) on the distant end, and failing to find
it fails on forwarding.  Many phone switches require that (in order to
establish forwarding) the distant end has to be answered by someone,
or if that is not possible (no one home on other end, or busy from
other end when forwarding is being set up) then one has to do the
forwarding routine TWICE. This is much like changing your password in
a system where you have to enter it twice to make sure you did not
screw up. If the number forwarded to is non-existent, then as stated
above, in some switches it still won't take effect. And let's not hear
any of the silly nonsense about forwarding to:

    911  (a serious offense, *you* might get prosecuted instead!)
         (anyway, on most switches, forwarding is disallowed to 411,
          611, 911, etc) 

    900/976    (you will get the bill for the calls, not the caller)

Suppose it does take effect in your switch ... well, now-a-days, most
intercepts return the number you have 'dialed' (or been forwarded to),
as in "the number you have dialed (reached), 123-4567 is not in
service at this time (has been disconnected)".  Now the caller *knows*
that he dialed 456-7890, yet the recording tells him that 123-4567 is
the disconnected number.  Who do you think would be fooled by that?
And suppose a *legitimate* call of an important nature arrives during
the night? The legit caller gets that screwed up intercept message,
becomes confused/concerned and asks the operator for assistance, etc.
Soon, there is a trouble ticket opened on the line, etc. It all gets
very messy and complicated.

Now sometimes in older exchanges there is just the generic "the number
you have dialed is not in service, please check the number and dial
again" response. In fact, sometimes in newer exchanges which mostly
give a recitation of the number, you'll still maybe find a few old
intercept recordings around on a few numbers for whatever reason.
Inactive numbers on the 950 exchange tend to be this way in Chicago.
But still you risk a legitimate caller getting sidetracked this way to
the confusion and detriment of all involved parties.

> a few calls, and the person will most likely give up.

Not really. AT&T statistcs show that most harassing/obscene calls are
made by people you know (and probably least suspect.) There are
callers who are totally random, but if the caller is known to you (in
other circumstances), they'll not be decieved, and probably laugh
themselves silly at your clumsy efforts to throw them off track. If
the caller is a hackerphreak or someone with a modicum of knowledge
about how the phone system works, they won't be fooled either.

> Another cheaper method is to slap a modem on the line in auto-answer
> mode, so the caller will get a nice blast of carrier each time she
> calls.  That itself can stop the calls fast.

Oh great! Just want you want to do is let the caller know you have
computing equipment on the premises. 

   1) If it is a random (and psycho) caller, you've given him a good
      reason to look you up in a cross reference directory so he can
      come over and rip you off when you are not home.

   2) If it is a hackerphreak, you've invited them to hook up *their
      modem* and see if they can hack you or crash you, etc.

   3) For some callers, this might get rid of them, but I'd not want
      to risk having one of the other two categories on line instead.

> If you don't have call waiting, but want to try the disconnected
> trick anyway, hook a tape recorder up to the phone, and call a
> disconnected number, while recording.  Then, throw that tape in your
> answering machine.

Naturally, everyone would be fooled by this, wouldn't they!  Instead
of the usual clicks they hear as a call is routed by the CO to
treatment, they get a couple rings and a cheesy sounding answering
machine tape. I mean, can't *your ears* tell the difference??????
And if not, what happens when after the message is recited twice (you
did remember to record it twice, right, since telco always plays the
message twice) then instead of a disconnect, your caller hears a beep
tone and gets to leave a message.  Oh yes, lots of folks will really
fall for this one.

> Of course, you can always change the number, but that is costly

No, with most telcos there is no cost at all involved to change your
number if the change is due to obscene or harassing calls. When you
place the order, mention why, the service rep will probably do it for
free; at least the Bell telcos work this way (or used to).

> and quite inconvienient.  

Yes very much so. What about all the legit callers who will be chasing
after you for a month or so until everyone gets the new number, and
the old number gets off all the lists it is on, etc.  Why should you
have to be inconvenienced because of some asshole?

> The simplest method, however,is to simply turn off the phone 
> ringers, or unplug the phones, and let the person call.

So then when a family member has an emergency they won't be able to
reach you.  When you oversleep accidentally in the morning, your boss
or co-workers won't be able to reach you.  If you forget to plug it
back in in the morning, then you won't get calls at all until you
happen to remember it.    This is a bad idea.

> Unless the idiot is completely crazed and psychotic, he/she/it will most
> likely get very tired of listening to a phone ring...  and ring...  and
> ring...  and ring...  and ring... 

But some callers of this type are crazed or psychotic. Others are at
least a little disturbed. And you may challenge him to start 'working
the phones' at other hours trying to find a time when you will be
there with the phone plugged in. 

> you get the picture.

Yeah, I certainly do. You like to play games. The original writer said
he did not have time to bother with a lot of this nonsense. That's why
I suggested he make it all very simple:

Tell the telco annoyance people to trap the asshole.
Keep quiet about the trap. *Do not tell anyone about it*.
Sign the form they send you and return it.
When the police have the results in hand, sign their complaint form.
Before long, you'll have a chance to greet your tormenter in person.

PAT