With caller ID spoofing, attackers can make it appear as if their phone calls are coming from a specific number either one that is known and/or trusted to the recipient, or one that indicates a specific geographic location.
Attackers can then use social engineering often posing as someone from a bank or customer support—to convince their targets to, over the phone, provide sensitive information such as passwords, account information, social security numbers, and more.
A Caller ID (caller identification, CID), also called Calling Line Identification (CLID), Calling Line Identification (CLI), Calling Number Delivery (CND), Calling Number Identification (CNID), Calling Line Identification Presentation (CLIP), or Call Display, is a telephone service, available in analog and digital telephone systems, including VoIP, that transmits a caller's telephone number to the called party's telephone equipment when the call is being set up. The caller ID service may include the transmission of a name associated with the calling telephone number, in a service called CNAM (“Calling NAME Delivery”) or CNAP ("Caller Name Presentation").
The recipient may inspect the information before answering the call on a display in the telephone set, on a separately attached device, or on other digital displays, such as cable television sets when telephone and television service is provided by the same vendor.
Caller ID spoofing is the practice of causing the telephone network to indicate to the receiver of a call that the originator of the call is a station other than the true originating station. This can lead to a caller ID display showing a phone number different from that of the telephone from which the call was placed.
The term is commonly used to describe situations in which the motivation is considered malicious by the originator.
In other words, Caller ID spoofing is technology that allows you to alter the information forwarded to your caller ID in order to hide the true origin ID.
In simpler terms, caller ID spoofing allows you to display a phone number
different than the actual number from which the call was placed. With caller ID spoofing, you can send and receive outgoing or incoming phone calls or texts that appear to be from any phone number of your choosing.
Though spoofing offers many legitimate and useful benefits to its users, it is also
one of the many ways scammers steal your personal identity and money over the phone.
Your caller identification Caller ID display normally indicates the phone number and name associated with the line used to call you. There are legitimate purposes
for altering the Caller ID information provided when placing a call.
For example:
The Caller ID may be altered to match the first 6-digits of your telephone number so that it looks like a local call, perhaps from a neighbour in your area, also known as neighbouring.
Neighbor spoofing works by tricking recipients into thinking they are receiving a legitimate phone call by showing a caller ID that matches or is close to your phone number’s “NPA-NXX”.
By matching their NPA-NXX closely to yours, spammers try to trick you into thinking the call is coming from a legitimate phone number
because it looks as though it’s coming from a phone number in your area code. This makes you much more likely to answer the call, and therefore even more likely to fall for a phone scam.
The Caller ID may display your own telephone number, also known as mirroring.
The Caller ID may display the number of another individual and organization
The Caller ID may be altered to represent a number that cannot be dialed within the telephone network
This can lead to a caller ID display showing a phone number different from that of the telephone from which the call was placed.
There is so many methods and technologies in which Caller ID spoofing works. Among which, the most popular method is through VoIP (Voice-over-Internet-Protocol) technology. VoIP is the technology that allows for voice communications to be sent over an Internet connection rather than through a typical phone line or cell tower. Some VoIP providers allow users to configure the number they display as the caller ID through the configuration page on their website.
Method 1: Using Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP):
It refers to making phone calls that are made through the internet, rather than through a regular landline or a mobile network. A VoIP system works by taking your analogue voice signals, converting them into digital signals, then sending them as data over your broadband line.
Voice over IP (VOIP) uses the Internet Protocol (IP) to transmit voice as packets over an IP network. So VOIP can be achieved on any data network that uses IP, like Internet, Intranets and Local Area Networks (LAN).
Caller ID spoofing with VOIP works like this:
The user opens the application web or mobile of the spoofing provider.
They enter the number they wish to call, followed by the number they wish to display.
When they press “send” or “call,” the call is sent through a VoIP service
The VoIP Service changes the outbound caller ID and then connects the user to their desired number.
Method 2: Using SpoofCard:
One of the most popular methods of caller ID spoofing is by the use of a SpoofCard. By purchasing one of these cards you call up the 1-800 number, enter your PIN number, what number you would like the caller ID to display, and then the number you would like to call.
Pros of Using SpoofCard :
Simple
No extra hardware or software needed
Proven service with thousands of customers
Cons of Using SpoofCard :
Costs extra money
Method 3: Using SpoofApp:
Today, Many Call Spoofing App for PCs and Mobile Phones are available. Now a day's Android is themost popular mobile operating system
List of Few SpoofApps :
Call Spoofing as explained above maybe misused with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain anything of value. The possibleimpact of same may be understood through following examples:
Threat to national security:
Call spoofing using the Crazy call or other medium may be a threat to national security. Bad Actors/terrorist/Antisocial activists may misuse this procedure for making the calls and disguise their actual identity. It won’t be possibleto trace their identity by the Law Enforcement Agencies.
Possibility of committing Frauds:
There is a strong possibility of
committing of frauds misusing the call spoofing. For example: a. A person can commit a fraud misusing the call spoofing as he/she can send the CLI of the targeted person to the banking services and can be able to steal information about credit/debit cards. The same can be misused for committing a financial fraud. b. A person can make hoax call to emergency services (e.g. for Police Assistance, dialing 100) and by sending the spoofed CLI can befool the officials causing the inconvenience to general public and wastage of manpower and money. c. A person can send the spoofed CLI while making a ransom call in case of Kidnapping and other criminal cases. In such case, it shall be impossible to reach and catch the actual accused /criminals.
REGUALTIONS IN INDIA AGAINST CALLER ID (CLI) SPOOFING
According to a report from the India Department of Telecommunications, the government of India has taken the following steps against the CLI spoofing service providers:
Websites offering caller ID spoofing services are blocked in India as an immediate measure.
International long distance operators (ILDOs), national long distance operators (NLDOs) and access service providers have been alerted to the existence of such spoofing services, and shall collectively be prepared to take action to investigate cases of caller ID spoofing as they are reported.
As per DOT, "Using spoofed call service is illegal as per the Indian Telegraph Act, Sec 25(c). Using such service may lead to a fine, three years' imprisonment or both.
HOW TO PROTECT FROM SPOOFED CALLS:
The best solution to stop caller ID spoofing is to ensure spammers and telemarketers cannot reach your phone. If they cannot get you on the phone, they can’t steal your time, money, and personal identity.
To take matters into your own hands and effectively stoping harmful spoofing calls, you should download any Call blocker application such as TrapCall. With TrapCall, you are protected before you receive a spoofed spam call.
Some Steps to be follow:
Don't answer calls from unknown numbers. If you answer such a call, hang up immediately.
Mittal Kapdiya
Mittal Kapadiya has well skill and experiences in Android & Web Application development. she has excellent catch on Python and various OS (Linux, Ubuntu & Windows ). She's so keen in Ethical Hacking and System Security Aspects and have good knowledge in it. Currently she's pursuing Masters in CYBER Security and is an active blogger at CYBER4ALL.
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