Faulty Phone Numbers: Don't Trust Your Caller ID

Or You Could Be Sorry!

If you are like millions of other people across the United States, you have a Caller ID box connected to your phone system. The Caller ID box shows you, on its screen, the name and phone number of everyone who calls your home... at least, that's what you think it does. Consumers are being fooled and stolen from every day, and it's their Caller ID that's allowing these crimes to happen. Be smart- don't trust your Caller ID.

You probably don't mind paying a little extra to your phone company every month to have Caller ID. It's convenient to know who's calling you before you pick up the phone. However, callers who don't want you to know their number or their names can utilize the "*67 Block". They simply key in *67 and your phone number, and your Caller ID is rendered useless. The only identification information that comes up on the display is "Private Call" or "Unknown Number", or a similar message. So, you take a chance if you answer your phone when your Caller ID can't tell you who's on the other end of the phone. Even though it's illegal by Federal law, shady telemarketers use this cover in hopes you'll answer the phone anyhow. Afterall, if your Caller ID display reads, "ABC Company", a place you've never heard of, or "Private Call", the latter has the best chances. "Private Call" could be your son, for example, who has an unlisted phone number, calling you. So, you CAN'T always trust your Caller ID.

Fortunately, Caller ID subscribers who were the recipients of these calls were placed on a more-level playing field when the "*82 Block" was put into effect. If you have this block, callers whose phone number doesn't appear on your display can't get through. Instead, they receive a voice message informing them that you don't accept "blocked calls." So if you don't want anyone who's calling your phone number to block their identity, you can force them to reveal it in order to make contact with you. Once they key in *82, and then your phone number, their name and number comes up on your Caller ID display, even if their phone number is unlisted.