[NJTechDiv] Robocalls changing for the worse, so don't get scammed

Tue Aug 13 17:05:55 UTC 2019

It is still there

Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 12, 2019, at 3:15 PM, Mario Brusco via NJTechDiv <njtechdiv at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Robocalls changing for the worse, so don't get scammed
> https://www.komando.com/happening-now/559991/future-robocalls-will-impersonate-you-and-your-familys-voices-too
> 
> By Francis Navarro, Komando.com
> 
> Do you still answer phone calls from unknown numbers? Like me, you 
> probably ignore them all. Why? Well, it's most likely just another 
> robocall or a telemarketing call.
> 
> But what if the caller ID appears to be from a familiar number or 
> company? Or worse, what if it looks like it's coming from your own 
> number? Out of curiosity, there's a good chance you might pick up.
> 
> But watch out -- that's what these scammers are counting on. And in the 
> future, it will only get worse. Not only can they spoof numbers that are 
> familiar to you, but they'll also start faking voices, too!
> 
> What is caller ID spoofing?
> 
> Caller ID and phone number spoofing is a growing plague that's not only 
> annoying, but it is also equally dangerous.
> 
> With this scheme, criminals are using VOIP (voice-over-IP) and phone 
> spoofing software to impersonate a phone number's caller ID.
> 
> This means they could make any call show up on your phone as if it is 
> coming from a familiar person from your contact list, company or 
> organization and even yourself.
> 
> In fact, these Caller ID phone phishing scams (also known as vishing) 
> are getting so sophisticated and professionally handled that they're 
> fooling even the most tech-savvy people around. Click here to read one 
> of the most interesting phone spoofing phishing attempts.
> https://www.komando.com/happening-now/494919/new-clever-bank-phishing-scam-is-spreading-and-its-duping-even-the-experts
> 
> But security experts are warning that a new level of deception is on the 
> horizon. You won't just receive scam calls from phone numbers that 
> you're familiar with, the person on the other end of the line will sound 
> like someone you know, too.
> 
> Voice spoofing is real!
> 
> Imagine this -- you get a call from a "friend's" number and in a 
> familiar voice, they're saying they are in trouble and you'll have to 
> bail them out. The problem? It's all a sham. Your friend's number was 
> spoofed and the voice on the other end was faked.
> 
> Soon, this will be the robocall reality we'll all be facing. Voice 
> manipulation software is real and it's only a matter of time before 
> crooks get their hands on it.
> 
> With voice editing software like Adobe's Project Voco (the "Photoshop of 
> speech") and Virtual assistants like Google Duplex that sound eerily 
> human, speech manipulation can certainly be used for scams, extortion 
> and manipulation.
> 
> https://www.komando.com/happening-now/379483/adobes-new-software-raises-major-security-and-privacy-concerns
> 
> https://www.komando.com/tips/468166/ai-human-voices-sound-a-little-too-real-for-many
> 
> Fortunately, creating a robocall version of you and your friends won't 
> be a trivial task. It will take tons of voice samples and computer model 
> training, not to mention advanced voice manipulation software, before 
> any personalized call and voice spoofing can be launched. It will take a 
> lot of work but it is definitely possible.
> 
> How to fight back against robocalls.
> 
> This is actually the easiest solution to eliminating robocalls. If you 
> receive a call from an unknown number or one that doesn't show up on 
> caller ID, don't answer. If it's an important call, the person will 
> leave a message and you can get back to them.
> 
> More importantly, if you receive a call that's coming from your own 
> phone number, don't ever pick it up. It's 100% a robocall.
> 
> All four of the major carriers have specific tools to identify, filter 
> and block suspected nuisance numbers from calling or texting your phone.
> https://www.komando.com/columns/540682/7-ways-to-stop-robocalls-now
> 
> Most require you to shell out an extra monthly fee to activate the 
> caller ID service, but network-level blocking is free of charge across 
> all the carriers.
> 
> To fight other types of robocalls, you can download and install 
> call-blocking apps such as NomoRobo, True Caller or Hiya on your 
> smartphone.
> Tap or click here for more information about these types of apps.
> https://www.komando.com/apps/417558/3-awesome-apps-that-block-unwanted-robocalls/all
> 
> BONUS: WE TRIED ROBOKILLER. HERE'S WHAT WE LIKED AND DIDN'T LIKE
> https://www.komando.com/apps/545200/robokiller-heres-what-we-liked-and-didnt-like
> 
> Soon, carriers will launch a new universal system that aims to identify 
> and block robocalls on the network level.
> https://www.komando.com/happening-now/556795/phone-carriers-finally-help-to-stop-robocalls
> 
> It's called Stir/Shaken and it will try to verify the legitimacy of the 
> number through a digital signature. No verification, the system will 
> assume it's a robocall. Hopefully, Stir/Shaken will be available by all 
> the major carriers by the end of the year.
> 
> end of article.
> 
> I do not recommend the use of the free versions of the above mentioned 
> apps if possible because of the explaination found in another article:
> 
> These robocall apps are harvesting your data
> https://www.komando.com/happening-now/587180/robocall-blockers-privacy-harvesting-your-data?utm_medium=nlutm_source=alertsutm_content=2019-08-11
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