101–110 of 146 posts
Once the relatives get wind of this, there is a simple solution. Get a new phone number for the person in question. And even more critical don't cancel the old one . Put an answering machine on the old one, and have a "safe" relative check it every other day or so. Give the new phone number to family and friends. After a few weeks of getting nothing but answering machine messages, the scammers will go away. If the ol…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
No offense but I didn't mention a specific VOIP provider on purpose. However, callcentric already has it built and much easier to understand than twilio. I'm not saying that service is bad - but the average person doesn't know what API, cloud, or SIP means (or care). Callcentric makes it pretty obvious what their service is and provides and how to use it.
I specifically mentioned Twilio because anyone can build a custom solution to address this problem. Someone already has done this (with Twilio) to win the FTCs RoboCall Challenge: https://www.twilio.com/blog/2013/04/twilio-powered-nomorobo-... I also like Twilio ;)
> Unfortunately, Nomorobo is not available on traditional analog landlines or wireless phones at this time.
Sounds like he failed the challenge...
I don't think his idea is revolutionary - one could setup Asterisk to do what he did.
In Indonesia, a particular scam is calling people (esp. parents) very early in the morning, when people are still sleeping, "We're cops. Your son/daughter is arrested for drugs possession. Send us lots of money NOW or we'll send him/her to jail." followed by what sounds like someone crying in the background. Since you're barely awake, and your son/daughter is indeed away (eg. on night shift or staying with friends),…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I specifically mentioned Twilio because anyone can build a custom solution to address this problem. Someone already has done this (with Twilio) to win the FTCs RoboCall Challenge: https://www.twilio.com/blog/2013/04/twilio-powered-nomorobo-... I also like Twilio ;)
> There are no infrastructure changes, or hardware required. This was one of FTC’s guidelines for the contest. > Unfortunately, Nomorobo is not available on traditional analog landlines or wireless phones at this time. Sounds like he failed the challenge... I don't think his idea is revolutionary - one could setup Asterisk to do what he did.
Twilio is stupid simple to prototype and get up and running with, at which point you could transition to your own SIP provider with a cluster of Asterisk servers when you're at scale.
There is a solution to this problem. 1. Change the phone number system to require 207 digit phone numbers instead of the current 10 digits. 2. Assign random phone numbers to everybody. Now the only people who can call you are the people who know you. You have to actively share your number with people. If people call random numbers they will get "not in service" messages all day long. We have 20 years of experience wi…
The lessons is not to "be wary of scammers" or "hack your phone"... That's totally missing the crux of the scam. The lesson is that, as you approach old age, and if at all possible, you should give a trusted relative or close friend a durable power of attorney over your finances. In addition, (or as a second best), put your money in an irrevocable living trust assigning yourself as a beneficiary, and laying out stric…
I lived through this with first my grandfather, then my grandmother.
Interesting that a lot of data was stolen by call centre workers. Shows one of the perils of outsourcing abroad to incredibly impoverished countries.
There is a solution to this problem. 1. Change the phone number system to require 207 digit phone numbers instead of the current 10 digits. 2. Assign random phone numbers to everybody. Now the only people who can call you are the people who know you. You have to actively share your number with people. If people call random numbers they will get "not in service" messages all day long. We have 20 years of experience wi…
What I suggested has many flaws I just don't think extending a current, shitty system is all that useful especially since the majority of these phone numbers are purchased anyway (almost no one dials random numbers to figure out if someone is there, who they are, etc).
I'd like to see these scammers hanged on national TV without hoods over their faces.