awan wrote:Spam is increasing and to stop it i have a suggestion to create a central spam catching number. the users of free phone line and fongo forward the calls to the spam catching number. this way there will be a common spam arrest number , once the number is stored in the spam db, next time it is automatically forwarded to spam well thus reducing spam traffic.
A service that you describe already exists, but not for Freephoneline, unless users have Obihai ATAs, and Fongo users. It's called Nomorobo:
https://www.nomorobo.com/, and personally, I wish it were officially supported by Fibernetics.
The Obihai OBi2xx ATA PDF guide shows how to use it for Freephoneline customers:
http://forum.fongo.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... 805#p73839. Unfortunately, other ATAs and IP Phone phones from other brands aren't able to make use of Nomorobo with Freephoneline because Obihai's devices are, so far, the only ones able to route incoming calls easily to other destinations.
You can block calls in the Fongo Mobile app under Settings-->Phone Service-->Blocked numbers.
Similarly, when I receive an incoming spam call, if it's from a legit number, I store it in my MTelemarketers digitmap, and then future calls from that number get routed elsewhere. The method is described in this PDF guide:
http://forum.fongo.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... 805#p73839. However, Tropo will no longer exist after October 31, 2018, so anything involving Tropo in that guide should be ignored.
These anti-telemarketing methods don't hurt Fibernetics' bottom line because the calls are simply routed elsewhere after reaching its network. The calls aren't blocked from reaching Fibernetics.
As bridonca suggests, however, Nomorobo isn't terribly effective against spoofed phone numbers that are real numbers outside of your area code. Other VoIP service providers offer options that require unknown incoming callers to state their names or press a random digit on a phone's keypad in order to connect the call. Those methods are effective against robodialers, but those methods are less effective when the scammer is present on the line and willing to speak a name or press a button.
There's a related discussion over here:
http://forum.fongo.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... 78&p=75563.
Here's what happens when spoofing occurs:
1) Spammer might be using a VoIP service that allows him or her to fake the outgoing number.
2) The fake outgoing number can be blocked. Let's say the fake number is 519-999-9999. You can set Fongo Mobile to block 519-999-9999. All calls from 519-999-9999 will be blocked, even though the outgoing number is spoofed.
Chances are the telemarketer, after a week (or a few days), changes the outgoing number. And then you have to block a new number.
3) Quite often 519-999-9999 is someone else's legitimate phone number, and you're now also blocking that person from calling you. Also the real person who owns 519-999-9999 will probably receive tons of calls complaining about telemarketing calls, despite the fact it's not that person's fault.
Also, quite often scammers try to use fake outbound called IDs that appear similar to your own phone number. Let's say your phone number is 519-123-4567. Scammers may try to call you from a spoofed (fake) outbound number that closely resembles yours, such as 519-12x-xxxx (where x is a digit from 1 to 9). The idea is that if the outbound CID (caller ID) number closely resembles yours, you'll answer the call, thinking, "Hey, this number looks like mine. I wonder who it is?" But it's not a neighbour or a friend. It's really some scammer from an international destination trying to trick you into giving your credit card information, for example.
It's pretty easy to block those calls using an Obihai ATA; just enter 51912xxxxx in a Telemarketing digitmap as outlined in the PDF guide.
On smartphones, there's a one time fee, paid app called WideProtect that's useful for blocking these types of calls (ones that appear similar to your phone number).
I am sure there is no revenue stream from the spam calls received
Actually, there is. Fibernetics, which owns/operates Freephoneline and Fongo, is the largest privately held competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) in Canada, and FPL/Fongo generates revenue from incoming phone calls or termination fees to its network in addition to the fees paid by its customers. The more phone calls made to their network, the more money they make. However, Fibernetics (FPL/Fongo) aren't the cause for any telemarketing calls you receive.
From
http://forum.fongo.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... 984#p16966
"Freephoneline.ca will never disclose your information to anyone outside of the company, as not only a courtesy to you our customers but also due to legal, ethical, and business reasons."--FONGO_kris
From
http://forum.fongo.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... 984#p16984
"
As we are part of a CLEC who is governed by the CRTC, we have a very strict privacy policy and do not disclose or sell any information."--FONGO_steve
Freephonline does give your info to a 3rd party 911 service (probably Northern 911) for the purposes of providing 911 service, which is understandable.
Your suggestion doesn't prevent the incoming telemarketing call from reaching Fibernetic's network. Rather, the call is just routed elsewhere after it reaches Fibernetics' network. Consequently, implementing your suggestion wouldn't lead to lost revenue.