To: cypherpunks@toad.com Be the first on your block to spend some electronic "near" cash. If you are the first to read this post, you may be able to use up to $5 of electronic pseudo-cash. I wanted to be the first to post some so it was worth $5 to me. Yesterday I bought a Western Union Phone Card (tm) from my nearest Western Union money transfer agent. It is good for about 8 minutes of phone calls anywhere in the continental US (fewer minutes of international calls). To use the "cash:" Call 1 (800) 374-8686 Wait for the tone Dial the code 428 22 601 When you get a dial tone, dial the (area code) + phone-number of the number you wish to reach. The system will tell you how many minutes you have available for the call. Western Union Phone Cards (tm) are available from any agent in $5, $10, $20, and $50 denominations. They can be (must be) purchased for cash. I have no idea whether Western Union saves the ANI info of incoming calls and cross indexes it with the outgoing number and the "account" number. All that I ask is that the user(s) of this card send me email (anonymously if you like) so I can send back privacy consulting solicitations. Duncan Frissell Michael Elansky Defense Fund 25 Maiden Lane West Hartford, CT 06117 --- ~ WinQwk 2.0b#0 ~ Unregistered Evaluation Copy
Western Union Phone Cards (tm) are available from any agent in $5, $10, $20, and $50 denominations. They can be (must be) purchased for cash. I have no idea whether Western Union saves the ANI info of incoming calls and cross indexes it with the outgoing number and the "account" number.
If you don't want your number being passed via ANI to the 800 number owner and don't want it to appear on their monthly 800 bill statement, simply use your local "0" operator to place the 1-800 call for you, it's free. Simply state "Operator, I'm having problems dailing this call..etc.." Readers of comp.dcom.telecom and 2600 magazine already know about this neat little trick. You can prove it to yourself by calling Full Disclosure's 800 ANI Demo line (800-235-1414) first without using an operator, and then with an operator and compare the results. If you call Dial-A-Mattress (1-800-MATTRESS) with your ANI blocked they will get crazy on you and hang up. They are so used to seeing your number on their screen, that when they can't, they go berzerk. The reason they have live ANI is because apparently they are a big target for pranksters (pranksters ordering mattresses to other peoples houses instead of pizzas, like the pranksters of years past).
Michael Elansky Defense Fund 25 Maiden Lane West Hartford, CT 06117
I just sent $10 cash to them. Better them than the corrupt EFF which has been accepting kickbacks/bribes from AT&T and Pac Bell. Speaking of which, has anyone bothered to contact the EFF/CPSR/ACLU about this case? It seems like a perfect 1st Ammendment issue, and I would personally love to see the pigs who raided Mr. Elansky lose their jobs because of these outrageous civil rights violations. Thug
If you don't want your number being passed via ANI to the 800 number owner and don't want it to appear on their monthly 800 bill statement, simply use your local "0" operator to place the 1-800 call for you, it's free. Simply state "Operator, I'm having problems dailing this call..etc.." Readers of comp.dcom.telecom and 2600 magazine already know about this neat little trick. You can prove it to yourself by calling Full Disclosure's 800 ANI Demo line (800-235-1414) first without using an operator, and then with an operator and compare the results.
I just tried this, both ways, and got my own home phone number repeated to
me, both times. Maybe they fixed this "bug"?
Happy Hunting, -Chris
participants (3)
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Christian D. Odhner -
Duncan Frissell -
thug＠phantom.com