'Trap Call' Service Instantly IDs Blocked Calls

by Warren Riddle on May 16, 2009 at 01:14 PM

The *67 telephone function -- which you can dial before making a call in order to mask your phone number -- has always been a valuable tool for phone pranksters and private investigators. A new online service, called 'Trap Call', foils such identity blockers by unmasking the dubious dialer's phone number, city of origin, and maybe even their name and address.

Here's how it works: After you sign up on Trapcall's Web site, anytime you decline an incoming restricted number, your phone bounces the call to the company's servers. The servers find the caller I.D. information for that number, and relay it back to your phone. The person on the other line hears the normal ringing tone, and the entire process takes place in a matter of seconds.

Although it may be perfect for identifying telemarketers, Jo Sterner of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence had to come along and ruin things. She told local Pennsylvania station WGAL that the service may be hazardous to victims of domestic abuse who (in order to set a child visitation schedule) have to call their attacker anonymously. May we suggest e-mailing in lieu of calling? Or, better yet, borrow someone's phone.

If you're interested, you may want to check out your state's phone regulations, since the service can also record calls -- which can be illegal in some states. [From: WGAL]

Tags: 67, callerID, star 67, Star67, top, trap call, TrapCall

Comments

damn im so emoMay 16th 2009 3:14PM

Neutral

signed up... very easy to use.... i love it!

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az1324May 16th 2009 6:29PM

Neutral

Does TrapCall use my cell phone's minutes?
Yes, when you you ignore a call, invoking the conditional call forwarding, you will be using your standard airtime minutes by sending the call back to TrapCall. When you answer the call sent back to you, because you are using two features simultaneously, you will be using double your minutes for the duration of the call. This scenario only applies when you reject a call and then answer it when it is sent back.

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JosephMay 16th 2009 7:51PM

Neutral

Not sure, I know it charges minutes when you check your voice mail. I would think not because you hit ignore as in you send it to your voice mail, but in a few seconds it calls you back with the rescricted caller's number.

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TyrothMay 16th 2009 6:56PM

Neutral

Uh...No offense, but this isn't new. It's made by the people who made Spoof Card. Was browsing the Spoof site a few months back, and saw Trap Call. Was still in Beta back then.

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JosephMay 16th 2009 7:36PM

Neutral

This would have came in handy yesterday!!! We were on a field trip, and one moron had the idea to prank call everyone who had a cell phone!

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dnsh_ii43Oct 3rd 2009 8:38AM

Neutral

I Want to know about mobile no

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KPMar 24th 2010 3:16PM

Neutral

The writer of this article, Mr. Riddle, though you gave some good info for those who might have an issue with prank calls or simply do not appreciate blocked numbers, being rude when it comes to those who use the number blocker for safety reasons really shows your ignorance.
I am guessing you have never been in a domestic situation nor respect anyone who has gotten themselves out of one. Use a friend's phone or.... yeah you are very ignorant on the subject. It would be a better idea to offer your information without your rudely presented biased opinion since some of us appreciate both sides of the issue.

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CarlyApr 8th 2010 8:35PM

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I tried to sign up but it needed billing info and I don't have a credit card

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