use Perl

• Are you registered with TPS? (Score:1)

  by jj (2990)

  Go to http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tpsr/html/default.asp [tpsonline.org.uk]and register, I did this and I don't get any cold calls, only the occasional text message.

  To stop spam text messages, forward them to VSPAM (87726), this lets us block them at the network level and so far has been very successful. NB you need to be on Vodafone UK though for this to work.
  • Anonymous call rejection (Score:1)

    by jj (2990)

    You may also be able to get a service from your fixed-line phone company called 'Anonymous Call Rejection' - basically the same as what you would do with the CallerID box but it works as a network feature. I'm fairly sure that this service is an OFTEL requirement so all fixed-line providers should be able to offer it.
    • Re:Anonymous call rejection (Score:2)

      by barbie (2653)

      I was going to say that it's the landline that is the problem, not the mobile. But having said that I started receiving spam SMS messages last year. I'll look into the 'Anonymous Call Rejection' scheme though, thats sounds exactly like what we want.

      Cheers JJ :)
      • Re:Anonymous call rejection (Score:2)

        by drhyde (1683)

        The thing to do is not to just reject anonymous calls, but to play them a message telling them why you are rejecting the call.
• Same Problem (Score:1)

  by chaoticset (2105)

  There exist hardware devices one can stick between their phone and the jack that autoscreen calls for you. I believe said devices can include whitelisting, so that certain people calling from certain phones always get through.

  It is not lost on me that a telephony modem could execute some (possibly all) of the same maneuvers. Plus, it could be written to really mess with people's friends -- with conditional inboxes, you could have it greet your friends by name. Plenty of evil uses abound. I just need t

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  • Re:Same Problem (Score:2)

    by drhyde (1683)

    You don't need to write it, you need to download Asterix [asterisk.org]
    • Re:Same Problem (Score:1)

      by chaoticset (2105)

      Thank you very much...that most certainly warrants further investigation. :)

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• Another vote for TPS (Score:2)

  by Matts (1087)

  Subscribe to the TPS, it really does work. Since doing so we've had one cold call, and when we said we were on the TPS they immediately made their excuses and hung up. The TPS has a very well handled "abuse" system, and when I filed an abuse complaint for the above call I got a personal response saying it would be dealt with appropriately.
  • Re:Another vote for TPS (Score:2)

    by barbie (2653)

    Signed up as soon as JJ suggested it :)

    Interrogating a cold caller when I got home, I discovered they are getting their information from a company called DataLink. Although my research into the company seems dubious, as none of the links I found via Google are anything to do with personal data collection.

    I've given Nicole a list of things to ask, should anyone else call. So I'll see if this same company crops up again.