> Subject: Re: Phone Scam (fwd)

> I've heard you can press *69 immediately when you receive a call that you want
> to "trap" the caller's number. It costs $.75 I think, but might be worth it
> if you can help identify a scam artist!
I have tried this several times to catch junk calls and computers
gone mad, but they have usually blocked their numbers. It is caller
ID s for those of us who don't have it, but is also "just" caller ID,
and the scam artists and windshield repair idiots can "request" that
their number not be revealed.
If you repeatedly get annoying calls, it may be worth trying *57,
which costs $1.50 a pop, but really does trace the call. Problem is,
uswest won't tell you who it is! but supposedly, if the calls
persist and you can "trap " the person, or computer making the call,
or trying to send the damn fax, then it's like three strikes and
you're out. They will then turn the number over to the police and
you can take legal action, and the phone company will cooperate by
disconnecting them. This works best when you can get the junk caller
to send you a fax, which you can forward to the uswest trace center,
because then they have something in writing - the advertisement, the
pitch, or whatever - and makes it easier to make the charge stick.

Unfortunately, they want us to pay for their
detective work, and it does take your time to do the legwork.
Clarice
Jerry Broadus
P.O. Box 249
Puyallup, WA. 98371