<begin quoted message>
The "90# scam" actually works in some cases. As I understand it, you
need
to pull this trick on an operator at a corporate PBX system. Don't
bother
to try it on your home equipment unless you own a big house with a
corporate
PBX sitting in the back yard.
Phone phreakers use this trick to get an outside line at the victim
company's expense -- BUT at least seven variant alerts surfaced in the
last
couple of weeks. One claims it happened at an Air Force base; another
swears it occurred aboard a docked Navy vessel. More variants identify
a
range of corporations, individuals, and long-distance carriers.
Frankly,
they look almost exactly alike, which indicates a number of hoax
variants
buried in the mixture.
Some people still express paranoia. Obviously, you can conduct a simple
experiment -- just pick up the phone, call someone you trust, and hit
9-0-#.
If nothing happens to your phone line...
Hope this insight helps! My very best to you.
Rob Rosenberger, webmaster
Computer Virus Myths home page
http://www.kumite.com/myths
<end quoted message>
Leigh Robartes-KUOI News wrote:
>
> ------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
>
> Date forwarded: Fri, 15 May 1998 17:34:20 -0700 (PDT)
> Date sent: Fri, 15 May 1998 17:33:48 -0700
> To: vision2020@moscow.com
> From: Nick Sanyal <nsanyal@uidaho.edu>
> Subject: (Fwd) FWD: Phone Scam
>
> >------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
> >Date: 15 May 98 11:02:25 +0000
> >From: Patty Morgan <pmorgan@idoc.state.id.us>
> >
> >Hello everyone. I thought you all might be interested in this notice. I
> >checked it out with the P.U.C. and they said it was for real, so beware
> >
> >----------------
> >I received a telephone call from an individual identifying himself as an
> > AT&T Service Technician who was conducting a test on our telephone
> >lines. He stated that to complete the test we should touch nine (9), zero
> >(0),the pound sign (#) and then hang up. Luckily, we were suspicious and
> >refused. Upon contacting the telephone company we were informed that by
> >pushing 90# you give the requesting individual full access to your
> >telephone line, which allows them to place long distance telephone calls
> >billed to your home phone number. We were further informed that this scam
> >has been originating from many of the local jails/prisons.
> >I have also verified this information with UCB Telecomm and Pacific Bell.
> >Please beware. This sounds like an Urban Legend - IT IS NOT!!! I further
> > called GTE Security this morning and verified that this is definitely
> >possible.
> >DO NOT press 90# for ANYONE. The GTE Security department requested that I
> > have this information with EVERYONE I KNOW!!! Could you PLEASE pass
> >this on. If you have mailing lists and/or newsletters from organizations
> >you are connected with, I encourage you to pass on this information.
-- M@ 46.722438 N -117.005599 W