[VoiceOps] Can't Figure This Scam Out

[Jay Hennigan]

On 11/11/21 08:01, LICT VoiceOps via VoiceOps wrote:
> One of our clients is a small private school.
> 
> For the past month, the school has been getting calls meant for other 
> schools in the general area (within 20 miles or so)
> 
> We have been able to get limited information from the caller like 
> what number did they dial. They are definitely not dialing our client's 
> DIDs.
> 
> It seems that they are dialing a number that they found on an internet 
> search, and the call is then forwarded to one of the DIDs at the school.

I've run into something similar, but the forwarded number was static, 
not dynamic. In other words, the number from the search always forwarded 
to our client.

It turned out to be cruft left over from a test marketing scheme from 
someone selling a "Yellow Pages" service. They create a new number, 
publish it only in search results and sometimes an actual phone book 
(ask your grandparents), then count the calls that go through.

The advertising company then pitches the client on buying advertising 
based on "You'd be missing all of these calls...." In our case the 
marketing program had ended long ago, the number was re-purposed for 
advertising an unrelated business, but the forwarding never got 
switched. Our client kept getting mystery phone calls for an unrelated 
business where the caller dialed a very different number from our 
client's main number. It took a while to figure it out. In this case, 
the original forwarding/trial period had been done long ago with our 
client's knowledge and permission, but the campaign had ended a couple 
of years before and was forgotten.

Your situation may be similar, but without permission. Scammy 
advertising company publishes a number that returns for searches on 
"Schools". It goes to an Asterisk or similar box that randomly or 
round-robin forwards calls to various area schools. Scammy company logs 
completed calls and durations, then pitches the schools with the most 
calls that last longer than "Sorry, wrong number" on their service. 
"Your competitors are getting all of this business...." The scheme 
doesn't have to be limited to schools. Plumbers, electricians, etc. 
could also be targets.

Call the actual dialed/forwarded number a few times, you'll probably 
find that your school is in the rotation. When you get a call that goes 
through to you, leave call up for a few minutes. Repeat several times 
and see who calls pitching advertising.

-- 
Jay Hennigan - jay at west.net
Network Engineering - CCIE #7880
503 897-8550 - WB6RDV