- Here’s An Opinion On:
- Tdl Law
By Lisa Carey
SpoofCard, may become the hottest software telephone calling system available thanks to the upcoming release by Sony Pictures of ‘Untraceable,’ starring Diane Lane as an FBI agent led on a merry chase for a killer who hides himself behind phone calls and the internet.
What is Spoofcard? It is a software system that allows outgoing callers to disguise their name, telephone number, voice and gender. It also allows the caller to record their telephone calls. In order to use Spoofcard you create an account very similar to long distance calling card plans or prepaid cell phone plans. The price of 60 minutes is $10.00 and customers may purchase up to 480 minutes for $80.00. Only credit cards are accepted by the site.
Customers are assigned a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to access their account. First, they call into the Spoofcard telephone system, dial the number you are calling and then dial the number and name you wish to appear on the receiver’s caller id. Next the system asks if you wish to change your gender or record a message to be played for the telephone call. Users may also record their calls, to replay later.
Spoofcard and their affiliates claim that it is simply an entertainment tool, however they also claim that it provides a certain level of privacy from professionals such as doctors or lawyers who may find it necessary to contact patients or clients out of office hours. It is stated on their site that one of the many reasons for purchasing the software is to enable professionals such as these to protect their home and cell phone information, but allowing them to program their outgoing calls to indicate the office and office telephone number.
Another entertainment purpose is to create your own unique telephone number to announce who you are, similar in nature to having ring tones that indicate who is called. Nicknames may also appear on the caller id screen.
However critics of Spoofcard are worried. Received calls may be tricked into answering calls from ‘ex’s’ or other individuals that they wish to avoid. We have all done it, screened our calls to determine if it is a good time to answer the phone or if it is someone who really want to talk to at that moment. Quite often even I ignore the phone after seeing the ID and deciding to return the call instead of answering it. Although prank calls have been and always will be a part of a teenager’s life with this system pranks may go too far causing immense fear, costs and police resources, such as in the prank interview by Paul Zahn of CNN news. Millions of telephone customers pay and additional fee for Caller ID, and now that protection is not available to the consumer at either their home or cell phone.
Uses for Spoofcard can also be extremely ‘ugly.’ Uses of the Spoofcard system can result in; the ability to access voicemail systems that do not belong to the caller; identity theft such as giving personal and financial information believing it to be a legitimate call based on the caller identification information and stalking, just to name a few of the more frightening uses for this system.
Spoofcard is legal. Even after Congressional hearings on the use of the software, it was determined that the software was legal, but that specific crimes associated with its use were not. Stipulations are in effect; such as the service is illegal only if used to deceive or attempt fraud or theft as a result of the call. In some cases, depending on the state, the recorded calls may or may not be admissible in court. The web site for Spoofcard indicates that all requests by a legitimate government agency will be honored.
Spoofcard may be purchased online through their homepage or through several affiliate programs. The homepage Spoofcard.com provides consumers with the ability to purchase their minutes. receive technical support, participate in the forum and access the FAQ page. However, in my research on the web, far too many claim to be using the system for illegal purposes, and although they make these claims, technology is available to keep their identity safe – but what about yours?
This system is just the latest of several new services available to both legitimate consumers and criminals alike that needs to be monitored and examines to protect from identity theft, and other crimes, now more easily available to criminals by utilizing this system.
About the Author: Lisa Carey is a contributing author for Identity Theft Secrets: prevention and protection. You can get tips on Identity theft protection, software, and monitoring your credit as well as learn more about the secrets used by identity thieves at the Identity Theft Secrets blog
Source: isnare.com
Permanent Link: isnare.com/?aid=219451&ca=Legal