Probes Scrutinize Caller ID Hacks

m.wired.com | Mar 21st 2012

Government interest is gathering around so-called Caller ID spoofing services that allow users to camouflage their phone numbers, with Florida's attorney general following the FCC in investigating the technology.

On Friday, state Attorney General Charlie Crist issued subpoenas targeting five different spoofing sites. For four of them, the subpoenas are directed at the registrars handling the services' anonymous domain name registrations, and are aimed at unmasking the owners of the sites. A fifth went directly to one of the spoofing sites, Tricktel.com, demanding business records and the identities of any Florida customers.

"People use Caller ID to protect themselves from unwanted calls and contact from those who would do them harm," Crist said in a press release. "It is wrong for individuals or businesses to deceive our citizens, and this cannot be allowed to continue unchecked."

In addition to serving as attorney general, Crist is the Republican candidate for governor of Florida.

The probe comes on the heels of a broad federal investigation that began late last month, when the FCC issued letters to at least three Caller ID spoofing sites demanding detailed information on the structure of the businesses, as well as the names of every customer that has used the services, the dates they used them and the number of phone calls they made.

One of those services, Telespoof.com, confirmed that it turned over its customer records to the commission last week, after the FCC followed up the letter with a formal subpoena.

"If I were a user, I would not be particularly concerned, because I think the FCC has obligations to keep it confidential," says Telespoof attorney Mark Del Bianco. "But I think there ought to be concerns about why the FCC wants the identities of all the subscribers.... It does not necessarily go out and subpoena the identities of ISP customers or others on a wholesale basis."

Telespoof, started in 2004 by a now-21-year-old phone hacker, has about 600 users, its founder says.

The Florida probe is separate from the FCC investigation, and does not encompass Telespoof. Crist is focused on five other sites: SpoofCom, SpoofTech, SpoofTel, SpoofCard and Tricktel. SpoofCard is also represented by Del Bianco, and the lawyer says the company is considering its options.

SpoofTel, which is based in Canada, says it's outside of the Florida attorney general's jurisdiction, but that the company doesn't tolerate unlawful use of its service. "I would like to remind your readers that SpoofTel's services are to be used for entertainment purposes only," SpoofTel said in a statement. "We certainly do not condone any misuse or abuse of our system. In the case of any misuse, we will immediately suspend that account while we proceed to investigate and determine whether termination is required."

None of the other sites responded to e-mail inquiries from Wired News.

Original Page: http://m.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2006/03/70462

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