[PLUG] VOIP, NOMOROBO, POTS, FAX

[Keith Lofstrom]

On Wed, Sep 06, 2017 at 04:51:02PM -0700, Larry Brigman wrote:
> Got to a computer so I can add the URL: http://www.jollyrogertelco.com/
> And the Ted talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXVJ4JQ3SUw

That's a lot of fun!  I got a telemarketer call ten
minutes ago, and manually Jolly Rogered them.

Ring ring, answer, ... silence ...

Me, falsetto voice:  Hello?  Hello Hello?

Pradeep in Bangalore:  hello ...

Me, riffing, angry voice:  "Where's my cheese?"

Pradeep: "Cheese?"

Me: "I gave you people 1400 dollars for cheese, where is it?"

Confused Pradeep: "Sir ..."

Me: "I want my cheese RIGHT NOW.  Did YOU eat it?"

Timid Pradeep: "I don't ..."

At this point, I hung up, laughing my ass off.  Yes, I
could have wasted another 5 minutes stringing them along,
but I quit while I was laughing hardest and I had done the
most ego damage in the least time.  I hope Pradeep is hurt
and angry for the rest of the day.  He knows he is doing
wrong, and he's earned those feelings.

Jolly Roger wastes telemarketer time, but what if we make
a science of this, learn how to drive these people into
insanity, so they attack their own criminal bosses? 

Technically: we can probably use line echo behavior and
other clues to estimate how far away the telemarketer is
and what region they are in, and calibrate our responses
for maximum cultural effect. 

Technolegally:  These calls enter the US phone system at
identifiable bridge points.  We can equip phones with a
little black box with a button.  Pressing the button sends
an encrypted message that is collected at the bridge point
to traceroute the source of the digital call, and register
the complaint.  All that information is stored in a public
key encrypted file, which can be opened by law enforcement
after streamlined, public, and prompt legal procedures.
Done properly, we can semi-automatically initiate legal
proceedings against these bastards within a few minutes,
just as a traffic cop (under strictly defined limits) is
empowered to stop a speeder or drunk driver in seconds.

Design in due process and civil rights protection.  99% of
such designs will be ineffective or invasive or non-legal,
but an excellent solution may lurk in the remaining 1%.

Sounds like a great Linux app to me!

Keith

-- 
Keith Lofstrom          keithl at keithl.com