The Link Between Call Recording and Stopping Phreaking
Phreaking (or dial-through fraud) is a problem for a lot of companies. It is because it brings to companies in the UK alone 1.2 billion pounds in losses each year, according to recent figures cited by the BBC. Such losses stem from illegal calls made by hackers and scammers utilising a said firm’s telephone network. Listed below are things you should know about this, and how you can fight the problem.
What is phreaking?
Phreaking occurs when hackers break into a telephone network via a weakness in the system. These are usually carried out with the purposes of either enjoying long-distance calls for free, getting free phone services, taking control of lines, tapping into another’s calls, and more recently making money.
There are several ways hackers can gain access to your phone network. One of them is through an unsecure voicemail account either with no password, or a password that is very easy to remember. Another is by using remote diagnostic access – used especially if you have a system of changing voicemail passwords. They’re only two of many ways. What makes this scary is because they can be hard to trace since they could be using a network of hacked telephone systems to break into yours.
How do I tell if my phone has been phreaked?
You could tell if you have been hacked if your phone bill is significantly higher than usual. Let’s say your firm’s telephones are recording 500-600pounds per month on the bill on average, but you receive recent bills that cost many times that. Other signs you have to be cautious about include details that report calls being made through your system during times outside business hours, weekends, or holidays. Unfortunately, as far as your phone service provider is concerned, your phone network was the one getting used so you will have to pay the charges even though you or your employees didn’t make those calls.
How you can fight it
There are many ways you can fight phone phreaking. Among these ways include having a voicemail password policy that sets guidelines on how frequently passwords should be changed, and the requirement of the use of more complex passwords. Other means include rigging your network to lock out telephone system access attempts after a certain number of tries, the use of call detail logging and accounting rules inside your company, or the locking of remote direct inward system access among others.
Another way is through using technologies such as anti-fraud systems. What these systems do is keep an eye on calls dialled via your network, and electronically disconnect pre-set unauthorised numbers. A great anti-fraud system allows you to set the rules on how it runs – like how many calls are allowed to go out at once, and so on. You can use it either alone, or even better, as a part of a call recording and management system that not only can curb phreaking, but also identify fraud activities, and manage and report legitimate call activities and the like.
If you’re having issues with phreaking, don’t panic! However, study your choices carefully, regardless of whether you are looking at changing policies regarding access to voicemail or your overall phone network, or intending to install anti-fraud systems that enhance your call recording/telephone recording and management system. And seek a professional’s help if you are unsure about certain things so they could help you comprehend and solve your problems.
Michael Spats is a telecommunications consultant who has peddled call recording as well as other similar services. For more details on how these can guard your business from phreaking, read up about telephone recording.
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