This day and age, many people have access to caller ID services. Many home phones subscribe to caller ID services and pretty much anyone with a mobile phone has the ability to tell who is calling them. Anonymity while calling someone is pretty much gone unless you take deliberate steps to block your number such as paying for it through your phone company or dialling a prefix using your mobile phone.
Another option altogether is called caller ID spoofing. Caller ID spoofing is the act of having a fake number show up on caller ID systems rather than your real number. This means that you can call someone and have them believe someone else is calling them altogether. As you may be thinking, there are many devious ways this type of ability can be used such as fraud and even worse. For this reason there has been legislation passed making it illegal to use caller ID spoofing for fraud or harm.
Caller ID spoofing itself, however, is not illegal. It can be used to keep your own number private or even for friendly pranks on friends or family, as long as its not “with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain anything of value” according to the FCC’s website.
Caller ID spoofing is easy and free and this article will tackle two ways of pulling it off: a website and a mobile phone app.
How display a fake caller ID for free via Telespoof.com
Telespoof is just one of many sites that allows phone number spoofing and shows a fake caller ID instead of your real number. This site gives you several free tries before referring you to SpoofCard.com to purchase more credits. That’s okay because the free tries are simple to use and 25 credits only cost about $25.
Head to the website and look for the link in the left column labeled “*new* Free Call!”
There are three very simple fields to fill in: your phone number, your friend’s phone number, and the fake number to display on the caller ID.
Notice it says “friend’s” phone number. Keep in mind that this type of service is illegal to use in any way to harm or rip someone off. Keep the usage to friendly pranks and for privacy purposes only.
Once you click the “Try TeleSpoof” button, your phone will receive a phone call. Answer it and follow the instructions. The only instruct you’ll probably receive is to press “one” to call your party. You will then be connected to your friend’s phone with the fake caller ID.
Spoof phone numbers with fake caller ID apps
SpoofApp is a smartphone app that does caller ID spoofing for you. This fake caller ID app is available for the iPhone, Android, and Blackberry mobile operating systems. For the iPhone, the app is called “Phone Gangster” and you can find it easier at this iTunes link.
For Android and Blackberry phones, simply go to m.spoofapp.com to download it directly.
Once installed, the fake caller ID app makes the whole process of displaying fake caller IDs really easy. Simply fill out your friend’s number and the number you want to show on the caller ID and you’re all set. The app also allows you to disguise your voice, to a point. You can also choose to record the call but in many areas it is illegal to record calls without the other person knowing about it and consenting to it.
The app gives you 6 free minutes and then you have to purchase more credits — ample time to get a feel for the service.
As a reminder, be careful how you use this new-found trick called caller ID spoofing. When it comes to pranks, keep it friendly. If the tricks turn mean, you may find yourself losing friends instead of just having fun! If you use the tool in an illegal manner, you may also find yourself in jail!
Also, knowing that such a tool as caller ID spoofing exists should make you leery before giving out any personal information to someone from an unknown incoming call. Someone could call disguising themselves as your bank or cable company, etc. and attempt to extract account information from you. If you are ever worried, hang up and call the company directly using that number on a statement. For more security tips and more information on caller ID spoofing, visit the FCC’s website on the subject.
If you’d like to learn how to block spammy phone calls instead, check out Abhigyan’s article on How To Block A Call With Call Master Beta For Android
shyamsundar
June 15, 2012
hi