New Gadget Blocks 'Spam' Phone Calls 274
Smivs writes "The BBC report on a new gizmo that can block/filter spam phone calls. The system basically intercepts all calls. If it recognizes them as a friend or a member of the user's family — numbers on the so-called star list created by the user — it lets them through as normal.
If the caller's number is on a zap list — numbers of telemarketers or other nuisance callers — the device answers it, and all future calls from that number, with an automated message which means the phone does not ring at all.
If the system doesn't recognize the caller's number, or the caller withholds their number, it asks them who they are, puts them on hold and then rings the user's phone.
The user has the option of taking the call, having the system take a message, or they can reject the call and add the number to the 'zap' list.
Users can add callers to their 'star' list by pressing the star button on their phone at any point during a call." So wait, they can't spam me twice? If I press a button? And if they actually show their phone number on my caller ID? What about the auto insurance scammers that hit me 10x/week?
Hey, we could use that in the U.S. too (Score:5, Interesting)
The only criticism that I have is that it rings my phone at all (for an unrecognized number). I would prefer a system where an unknown caller (those not on the white list) has to first identify themselves as a real person (by keying some numbers) and then leave a message. The phone should only actually ring for whitelisted callers, everyone else should have to prove themselves human for the privilege of leaving a message.
The most annoying calls now are the "robo-calls." What really infuriates me about them is that I can't seem to hang up on them (if you try to hang up and pick up the phone later, the message is still playing). This pisses me off because it means that my phone company is somehow in cahoots with these bastards and is essentially letting them hijack my phone line without my permission. What if I needed to make an emergency call and had to wait for the robo-call to go through all its "great offers" before I could even dial out?
Do Unto Others ... (Score:3, Interesting)
What about the auto insurance scammers that hit me 10x/week?
You can't reason with scammers, they use playground logic. Scam 'em back with a not so new gadget [wikipedia.org].
you can do this with Asterisk too (Score:4, Interesting)
RAH's SASL gadget is still better (Score:4, Interesting)
If you want to talk to me, deposit $midrange_sum_of_money . I will stop what I'm doing and respond to you. If I think the interruption was justified, you'll get your money back. Otherwise, it's a donation to the Charity of Me. Obviously you can let some people bypass this, at least at some times of the day.
Implicit in this is the belief that if you don't trust me with your cash, or you feel that you don't want to risk the money on my whims, leave a message. And there should be a much smaller charge here too, just to stop the telemarketers clogging that also.
$sum needs to be fairly large, but not cripplingly so. A day's pay? Hmmm. Maybe I should just get an 0906 number for my house....
How it works (Score:2, Interesting)
In future, there are plans for the device to be able to download a list of blacklisted numbers from a central database, which can be dialled into via a modem inside the box.
And this will be updated by the users. It might just work.
I'm more impressed by the whole "virtual receptionist" aspect. That could be handy.
Want to trade phone numbers? (Score:5, Interesting)
I live in an area with a high Hispanic population, and coincidentally have a Spanish last name. I've been on the DNC list for years, but I get all kinds of telemarketers trying to scam me in Spanish. (It's pretty obvious that these are not legitimate nonprofits or companies. They hang up on me once they find out I speak English.) Blocked CID, of course, so it's hard to report them.
They're counting on the fact that most of their Spanish-speaking targets are either unaware of the DNC and other laws, or more likely are illegal and thus afraid to report them to the Feds.
And that's ignoring the peole who are "Conductiing a survey about your telephone service" or "Conducting a survey about how you recieve television"
Re:End vs. flash (Score:3, Interesting)
Revenge (Score:4, Interesting)
About fifteen or so years ago I had a modem that came with Cheyenne Bitware voicemail software. It was pretty cool, I set something up similar to this gizmo in TFA.
I had it set up so the voicemail messages and callers went thhrough the PC speakers, so if someone I actually wanted to talk to came on I'd just answer. (caller ID showed the number).
"Hello" (pause so it sounded like a person answered and they would start talking) "Hi, you have reached the mcgrew residence. Press one if you wish to leave a message, two if you are a telemarketer, three if you are with a charity, four of you wish to conduct a survey, five if you represent a political candidate who wants my vote...
I had every chioce leading down a labrynthian rabbit-hole that went in circles. Friends and family knew to hit any key twice or just leave a message.
Much hilarity ensued.
My 77 year old dad, when he gets a telemarketer, just lays the phone down and lets them talk, checking periodically to see if they're still on the line. They want to waste your time? Tit for tat. Telemarketers are WORSE than spammers IMO.
Astycrapper (Score:1, Interesting)
There is a script for Asterisk:
http://www.linuxsystems.com.au/astycrapper/
You can route blacklisted numbers to it but more often than not the telemarketer has no callerID. This is way more fun.
My dad taught me a game: "winding up the caller" (Score:5, Interesting)
I see every unsolicited call as an opportunity. If I am in a hurry there are a number of quick responses.
The "National Security drop number" is a good one. You sound agitated and ask them what their security clearance is. When they don't understand you say "this is a top secret number - hos did you get this?". Whatever they say you then become really calm and say "O..K.. don't worry. Just stay on the line and we will soon have this resolved". Move the phone away from your mouth and ask "how is the trace going.... good". They usually hang up really soon.
Another good one is to ask them for their number so you can call them back. Say you never trust anyone unless you made the call. Some actually will give you a number, which you pretend to write down but ignore
Another is the "sexual interest". This takes a little longer, because you have to start by listening as normal. After a bit you say something like "you know, you sound really hot. Do you live anywhere near (somewhere a long way away)?". If they don't hang up then you can start asking what they are wearing, etc. This works really well for other men, they usually can't wait to get off the line. (I wouldn't go to far, I don't think anyone would try to prosecute you for harassing them when they made the call, but stay legal)
Then there's the "in the same line of business". This can actually be used for a quick call, but its best to wait until they finish. Note down a few points then respond with something better. "Actually I work for associated life insurance, and whereas you can guarantee 4% growth I can offer you a policy that will guarantee 4.2%, plus with a discount on the first six months premiums.
Another one is to listen all the way through and then decline for a really illogical reason. They are well rehearsed at the "can't afford it", "already have an alternative" and so on - but "well I would really love too. But you are called Acme associates. I'm afraid that is just incompatible with my star sign. Especially when you call on a Wednesday"
There are plenty more but you get the picture. They are giving you an opportunity for fun.
Re:Partially useful (Score:3, Interesting)
>I assure you that they will be more than happy to accept your kindness, and best of all, they will make use of 100% of the money you donate, not pay people to bother yet more people by making unsolicited calls.
Is this true? When I worked in the NPO world, fundraising was an expense in the budget. All money collected while fundraising when into the budget. There wasnt a special budget for people who called directly for donations. It all goes into the pool. Perhaps it would be best to write a letter telling them you refuse to donate if they continue to use outbound call centers.
Re:Revenge (Score:1, Interesting)
when he gets a telemarketer, just lays the phone down and lets them talk, checking periodically to see if they're still on the line
That's the way to do it. I've had them talk for 15 minutes straight before realizing it. If you really want to get the point across about wasting time, a little "taste of your own medicine" goes a long way.
Re:Hey, we could use that in the U.S. too (Score:4, Interesting)
VoIP is definitely the way to go. we really shouldn't need to purchase/install another device just to have automated control over our phone line. seems like with an open VoIP standard and an open source VoIP handset, you could just program such behavior directly into the phone. there's really no need for special hardware.
the other thing to do is regulate cold-calling (whether commercial or political/non-profit). force all automated cold-callers to be registered in an online database. when you receive a cold call, the caller will send you its number/ID that your VoIP phone will automatically look up on the online database and handle the call appropriately (e.g. hang-up/block all commercial calls, or take a message if it's a non-profit caller and save the voice message to a special inbox).
VoIP systems can also be easily extended. for instance, you can require anonymous callers to enter a password that you'd only give out to friends. that way if a friend needs to reach you from an anonymous line they can still get by your call filter. you just can't do this type of thing with traditional cellular or landlines because they're on proprietary networks.
Re:Unlisted Numbers (Score:1, Interesting)
if this device could "answer" then ask for a name, and instead of ringing, play the recorded name...
I know this slashdot and you didn't RTFA, but that is EXACTLY what this does...
$ a minute work (Score:2, Interesting)
Not a huge fine, just make it # cents per minute, like a 900 number. Any phone call not on the white list has to pay to contact me.
If they want to waste my time, they pay for it.