New fraud prevention measures including one-click reporting

[joglynne]

This is probably not news to some members but I found it interesting. Especially the "Clamping down on 'number spoofing. This will see the Government working with telecoms regulator Ofcom to ensure fraudsters can't impersonate legitimate UK phone numbers."

Social media users will be able to report scams with just one-click under new measures announced by the Government today. Banks will also be allowed to delay payments they believe to be suspicious, while cold calls on all financial products will be banned as part of a host of new measures designed to help tackle fraud.

snippet ... The Government's new national fraud squad will comprise of 400 specialist investigators who will work together with local police forces and the UK's intelligence community - which includes MI5, MI6 and GCHQ - to clamp down on scammers.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/ne...Ipeky04P-R_Mso

[Sephiroth]

I never did understand why the provider (BT, Virgin Media, etc) couldn't supply the root telephone number to the call blocker mechanisms.

[joglynne]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

I never did understand why the provider (BT, Virgin Media, etc) couldn't supply the root telephone number to the call blocker mechanisms.

I find the spoofing of my local area numbers very annoying. I help a local support group and my number is available to people in my area who need someone to talk to.

I would use my answerphone for people not listed as contacts but this isn't an option when someone is already feeling lonely and isolated and getting put through to an answerphone may be too much for them to cope with.

I understand that the number showing isn't the true source number and they will just keep ringing people using other numbers but I still enjoy hitting the big red button on my callblocker.

[heero_yuy]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

I never did understand why the provider (BT, Virgin Media, etc) couldn't supply the root telephone number to the call blocker mechanisms.

As I understand it it's when the call is made using VOIP. Then the source number is at the discretion of the caller hence the ability to "spoof" it.

[Sephiroth]

Yes - I had overlooked VOIP.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by joglynne

I understand that the number showing isn't the true source number and they will just keep ringing people using other numbers but I still enjoy hitting the big red button on my callblocker.

If they're spoofing a real number, could you be in danger of blocking the number of someone who needs to speak to you? Unlikely though the chances are.

[joglynne]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

If they're spoofing a real number, could you be in danger of blocking the number of someone who needs to speak to you ? Unlikely though the chances are.

My son, who is involved with cyber security and data protection, was amused when I told him of my enjoyment using my callblocker but brought up the same possible outcome explaining why it wasn't solving the actual issue.

I still enjoy bashing the big red button but I do now also remove the innocent numbers from my callblocker.

[tweetiepooh]

The originating termination must be available just as the receiving termination to make the call and to bill correctly. But what about where multiple companies may share an exchange/switchboard and only one is abusing the phone system?

"Faking" the caller ID is useful with switchboards where you want to allow direct dialling to the extension rather than the switchboard (reception).
So, as I have said before, while it seems an good idea (if possible) to block either on the originating termination or where the caller ID and originating termination don't match may have unintended consequences.