My Caller ID Lied Big Time

PineRidge · Apr 13, 2004

Earlier today I was sitting in front of my computer monitor when the phone rang on the edge on my desk. It was the house line ringing, and If it's not the business line that rings I'll normally let Rose my wife catch it since the majority of the time it's her sister calling anyway. Anyway I glanced over at the caller ID only to see my own telephone number being displayed in the LCD readout. It caught me completely off guard so I grabbed the phone and quickly answered.

It was the Ohio Trooper's Association calling for a donation. I patiently listened to the whole long winded spiel and then told the caller that I had already donated which I had several months earlier.

I guess my point to this post is that I found it rather cunning for the caller to be able to somehow enter the information and fool my caller ID so that my own number would be displayed at my telephone. Who'll be using this tactic next looking for a donation, the Martha Stewart get out of jail foundation? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

_RaT_ · Apr 13, 2004

Interesting. I will have to be alert for that.

MossRoad · Apr 13, 2004

That sounds very odd. Almost impossible. I have a friend that is very knowledgeable about phone systems and I will ask him how this is possible. My hunch would be that they are using part of the emergency system, maybe the 911 center, to make these calls. Just a hunch, no knowledge behind it whatsoever. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Junkman · Apr 13, 2004

My first question before they even get started into their spiel is "are you a police officer"? If they respond in the negative, then I terminate the call, because they are paid solicitors and a greater percentage of the money that is collected goes to them and only a small percentage goes to the orginization that they are representing. Many orginizations do this because whatever they recieve is considered found money that they wouldn't have received under normal fund raising activities. Personally, I don't donate to unsolicited calls, but I will donate directly to the orginization if they are conducting a fund raising drive, such as the local fire, police, or ambulance department.
I can't speak for the accuracy, however I have been told that some of the Patrolman Benevolent Associations use the money that they collect for purposes other than direct funding of line of duty injury Patrolman benefits. I was told that it is used for Union negotiations, etc. Can anyone tell me if this is truth or fiction? Bird, can you shed some light on this?

fenneran · Apr 14, 2004

I work for a phone company (but in the IT department) and I've seen this happen only a couple of times in eight years. When I ask those who know, they say it is just a fluke. Essentially, the phone system is just a big computer. When someone calls you, the switch they reside on and the switch your phone is on exchange a bunch of information before the call is even placed (unless you are on an old, very rural system). Then, when they both decide that the call can come through (your phone is not busy, etc), the bridge is set up between the two systems. At this point, the "sending" switch sends the callerID info (if it can), but only if they have the option to block callerID turned off (one of those * codes), along with the signal. If any of this process gets garbled, your phone switch may send your number to the phone instead of the caller's by mistake. This is probably what happened in this case, but I would be on the lookout for it again. If it happens, I would call your phone company and have them do a line test on your line to see if there is a lot of noise or if something else is goofy with your record in the switch.
-Frank

gws · Apr 14, 2004

The caller ID number can be made to say anythig by the calling end if they have the proper equipment. The caller ID/name is transmitted from the orginating phine switch. For me and you thats the switch at your phone company. For larger companies they have switches at there site and can set a phone line to send whatever you like. Many companires will have a "main number" that will appear on your caller ID, but you may be calling from an "inside" line number. some charities and collection companies will block caller ID or put some random number and blank name in so that people will not block them.

wroughtn_harv · Apr 14, 2004

I keep the office line forwarded to my cell. And since it's a business line there's no solicitor call block, we're exempt. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

If they call from a PBX system it'll come up "no number" or a number they choose, usually a local one so you'll answer. There's also the computer generated calls that do a hang up if you answer. They want to nail the voice mail or answering machine.

Yesterday a nice young lady invited me to have lunch with the President. I explained to her that while I might enjoy it I doubt anyone else would. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The state trooper scam is just that. Troopers get less than twenty percent of the donation. They don't call me anymore. But if one gets through I'll ask if it's okay to just give it to the chief, sheriff, etc. That isn't what they want.

And the decal you get if you donate? Do you think for a minute any officer worth a whit is going to notice except to surmise he's stopped a sucker?

Inspector507 · Apr 14, 2004

The Ohio Troopers Association has nothing to do with the Ohio Highway Patrol except the 5% or so of what they collect. That said, they couldn't be using the 911 call center /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

fivestring · Apr 14, 2004

The money that our FOP collects goes to several worthwhile causes:
kids fingerprint programs
Easter Seals
death benefits
some community programs
None of it goes to labor negotiations.
All of the money must be accounted for.
We hire companies to solicit for us because of cost. Finding enough volunteers to makes thousands of calls and processing the money isn't an easy task.
Unfortunately, the FOP gets less than 25% of what is collected, but that is still more than we would have gotten trying to do it ourselves.

Richard · Apr 14, 2004

When I got my recent FOP solicitaton for donation, I told them that I'd just paid a $120 fine for having my headlight out (rather than a warning), and they could consider THAT my donation. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

MikePA · Apr 14, 2004

fool my caller ID 
Not to quibble /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif , but your callerid wasn't fooled and it didn't lie, it displayed exactly what it was sent. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bob_Skurka · Apr 14, 2004

Most of the police, fire, sheriff & state trooper fund raising operations are actually run by private solicitation companies out of national call centers.

The organization you donate to may only get 10% to 25% of the amount you donate!

I make it a practice to do two things, ask where the caller is calling from, and ask them to come get the money themselves. They will often say that they will have one of the other guys stop in and pick up the check, that is a ploy and you should NOT fall for it. The call center will contact the local department and have them send one of their guys out for the check, but the call center still gets the majority of the money.

My cousin used to work for a call center in Sarasota, FL and he explained the entire thing to me. It is not a scam, but it is not what you think it is. And your local department will get SOME money, but not anything close to what you donate.

If you want to donate to your local department, then just send them a check in the mail and specify what it is to be used for (like bullet proof vests).

Wannafish · Apr 14, 2004

"...exchange a bunch of information before the call is even placed ..."

Wow! You mean they know who I'm going to call before I do? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Sounds like something out of the Twilight Zone! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bird · Apr 14, 2004

( Can anyone tell me if this is truth or fiction? Bird, can you shed some light on this? )

Junkman, you, Inspector507, wroughtn harv, and Bob Skurka have explained it quite well. Personally, I consider it a scam that ought to be stopped, and I would think it would be an embarrassment to any law enforcement agency or group involved. I'm sure there are some variations, but the only ones I've known about personally were cases in which the group allowed use of their name for no more than 5% to 10% of the money raised. I'd never donate to a telephone solicitor like that.

Now Gary (fivestring) mentioned how the money is used that the FOP collects, and I agree that what money gets to them is usually used for good purposes, but this particular fund raising method does not set well with me.

fivestring · Apr 14, 2004

"When I got my recent FOP solicitaton for donation, I told them that I'd just paid a $120 fine for having my headlight out (rather than a warning), and they could consider THAT my donation." 

Ah.... the joys of the job. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
We're heroes to people until they get a ticket...and then it's our fault. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

EastTexFrank · Apr 14, 2004

We're heroes to people until they get a ticket...and then it's our fault 

Sorry Gary but that's the way people are and you know that after spending 20 years on the force. We law abiding citizens love the cops until we're not law abiding citizens and then our views change ... in a hurry. Usually though it's only for a short time and our wrath is directed against an individual officer and not the force in general. That's from a guy who's never had a ticket in his life ... had a couple of warnings though. If it's any consolation, we'd NEVER want to be without you either.

Golfgar4 · Apr 14, 2004

( We're heroes to people until they get a ticket...and then it's our fault. )

Gary,

For many years (+ 15), I taught Defensive Driving classes for professional bus drivers and other government employees. We called them Mass Transit Surface Vehicle Operators , but that's a whole different story.

Anyway, at some point during the 8 hour class, we'd always discuss the mental and emotional aspects of driving. I'd ask what was the single most emotionally upsetting thing that could happen when a person was driving. Invariably, someone would answer with "Getting a ticket!" I'd ask why that was upsetting, and they would say something about being embarrased, or making them later than they already were, or the expense associated with the ticket. I would then ask them, "Aren't you really upset because you got caught breaking the law, and you know you were guilty?" I would then go on and suggest that rather than getting outwardly upset at the officer, why not thank the officer? Can you guess the kind of reaction I'd get then!? /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

After the students calmed down, I would suggest to them that there was very real possibility that the officer just saved their life, or possibly someone else's. Wasn't that worth thanking the officer for? The officer is just doing their job, and because of that, made things a whole lot safer for everyone. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

So even if no one else wants to say it, I will. Thank you and ALL law enforcement officers for making my and my families lives a lot safer. Your efforts really ARE appreciated! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Junkman · Apr 14, 2004

( "When I got my recent FOP solicitaton for donation, I told them that I'd just paid a $120 fine for having my headlight out (rather than a warning), and they could consider THAT my donation." 

Ah.... the joys of the job. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
We're heroes to people until they get a ticket...and then it's our fault. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif )

Do you profile?????? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

PBMAX · Apr 14, 2004

I it would be as easy on land line and there are those that have said asmuch here.

But cell phone to cell phone a few weeks back an old phone hacker on Tech TV right there live on tv called Leo Laports cell and made it show the WHITEHOUSE phone number simpley but punching in some code...

I'd imagine if it were real easy tellamarketers would have been trying it already.
But I believe they also said it was A.... NO....NO..... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

The more that electronics get involed the more holes,shortcuts and backdoors get found by the CURIOUS.... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

GerardC · Apr 14, 2004

I have "talking" caller I.D. and voice mail on all my phones. If I hear or see a number I don't know, voice mail takes the call. Then I screen the calls and block the unwanted ones. Aaahhhh... technology. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif