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Private Line covers what has occurred, is occurring, and will ocurr in telecommunications. Since communication technology constantly changes, you can expect new content posted regularly.

Consider this site an authoritative resource. Its moderators have successful careers in the telecommunications industry. Utilize the content and send comments. As a site about communicating, conversation is encouraged.

Writers

Thomas Farely

Tom has produced privateline.com since 1995. He is now a freelance technology writer who contributes regularly to the site.

His knowledge of telecommunications has served, most notably, the American Heritage Invention and Technology Magazine and The History Channel.
His interview on Alexander Graham Bell will air on the History Channel the end of 2006.

Ken Schmidt

Ken is a licensed attorney who has worked in the tower industry for seven years. He has managed the development of broadcast towers nationwide and developed and built cell towers.

He has been quoted in newspapers and magazines on issues regarding cell towers and has spoke at industry and non-industry conferences on cell tower related issues.

He is recognized as an expert on cell tower leases and due diligence processes for tower acquisitions.

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September 02, 2004

Posted by Tom Farley & Mark van der Hoek at 09:48 PM

Is there a product that spoofs Caller ID?

Q. Is there a product that spoofs Caller ID? A business, stalker, or con man might use it to disguise their real number.

A. It's more a service. You sign up, your calls are routed through their equipment, and the people you dial see a fake number. It's a bad thing and let's hope the FCC kills it.

Emergency dispatcher Smarty Jones comments, "We get calls from people who get outbound call center calls with 'pseudo' phone numbers and area codes not in use. Even MBNA, the second largest credit card company in the world, uses a fake area code. We get complaints for 'harassment' from people and it's MBNA and the same fake area code and number. Ninety-nine percent of the time the person is into them for tens of thousands and even hundreds of thosands of dollars and in arrears. So MBNA and others use this tactic to get to the debtor, right, wrong or indifferent. But after the 23rd time the called person figures it out and then calls law enforcement for 'harassment.' If we do a little bit of homework we find that the reportee actually is close to being a fraudster or actually is one. Amazing how criminals will call the police for help.

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