STIR/SHAKEN is supposed to stop the spoofing. For an explanation, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STIR/SHAKEN
No post body was provided.
Ask HN: How can scam callers fake a mobile phone number?
11–20 of 156 posts
Re: Ask HN: How can scam callers fake a mobile phone number?
#12This is why I like having my number from where I lived in 2005 (see https://xkcd.com/1129/ ) - any calls from "my area code" are automatically spam unless it is a particular number I know.
Re: Ask HN: How can scam callers fake a mobile phone number?
#13STIR/SHAKEN is supposed to stop the spoofing. For an explanation, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STIR/SHAKEN
The problem is that carriers (especially smaller ones) have been dragging their feet on implementing it, and nobody can use it to actually block calls until essentially everybody supports it and is interoperating. Until then, phones will just show calls between STIR/SHAKEN carriers as having verified caller ID.
Re: Ask HN: How can scam callers fake a mobile phone number?
#14STIR/SHAKEN is supposed to stop the spoofing. For an explanation, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STIR/SHAKEN
STIR/SHAKEN hasn't worked correctly or stopped robocalls like promised. Congress basically told everyone that this was the answer and would stop robocallers for good, but in reality did barely anything at all. The real solution is to label robocallers as terrorist and sanction countries with large amounts of robocalls for sponsoring terorrism. Before long, everyone will be too scared to even consider working in a robocall center and they will start turning on each other and reporting their bosses. They should even offer monetary rewards and protections for providing intelligence on the people operating these.
Re: Ask HN: How can scam callers fake a mobile phone number?
#15STIR/SHAKEN is supposed to stop the spoofing. For an explanation, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STIR/SHAKEN
The problem is that carriers (especially smaller ones) have been dragging their feet on implementing it, and nobody can use it to actually block calls until essentially everybody supports it and is interoperating. Until then, phones will just show calls between STIR/SHAKEN carriers as having verified caller ID.
would it be possible to tell my carrier to simply block all call that are not (STIR/SHAKEN)?
If all my friend are on carrier that support it, I am not interested in receiving call from people that are not on a carrier that support it.
Re: Ask HN: How can scam callers fake a mobile phone number?
#16Hoping this is something that doesn't need to be said here, but just in case:
This is why you should NEVER provide personal information over the phone if you didn't initiate the call. It doesn't matter if your caller ID says it's your doctor's office or your bank or whatever.
Hang up and call them back at the number you normally use to reach them, from their website or the back of your credit/debit card for example. Make sure you're talking to the people you think you are.
Otherwise they can phish all kinds of info out of you.
Re: Ask HN: How can scam callers fake a mobile phone number?
#17This is why I like having my number from where I lived in 2005 (see https://xkcd.com/1129/ ) - any calls from "my area code" are automatically spam unless it is a particular number I know.
I have this convenience as well. If I don't have a number from my home area code, I don't need it. Although I basically do not answer any unknown phone numbers at this point unless I'm expecting a call from a company for something.
Re: Ask HN: How can scam callers fake a mobile phone number?
#18STIR/SHAKEN is supposed to stop the spoofing. For an explanation, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STIR/SHAKEN
Isn't it already possible for a phone to display the STIR/SHAKEN Caller ID verification status of each incoming call now?
This would be useful in the interim as this system rolls out, and would also encourage adoption by mobile carriers
Re: Ask HN: How can scam callers fake a mobile phone number?
#19Because the design of the original caller-id system allows the initiator of the call to attach any set of numbers they like as the caller-id value that is shown on your phone.
Which is hilarious because the phone company used to charge extra to bring you this information as if they were telling you who was calling. That's a service I'd almost be willing to pay for today if it actually worked.
Re: Ask HN: How can scam callers fake a mobile phone number?
#20I think a much better question is, why can scammers spoof a phone number? We hear lots of excuses from the carriers about how this is out of their control, this is how the system works, etc. Why don't they feel like they have a fire lit under their asses to fix the issue?
My immediate guess is that they must make money off of scam calls somehow. A scam call is still a call.