[VoiceOps] Request to block number?

[Carlos Alvarez]

 Now I really look forward to my turn to get this call.  Have either of you
tried calling that number back?


On Sep 21, 2023 at 11:35:29 AM, David Breakey via VoiceOps <
voiceops at voiceops.org> wrote:

> This is clearly a scam of some kind, although I must admit I'm totally
> baffled as to what the end-game actually is.
>
> I just received an identical call, although I cannot be certain what
> number they actually called, as I have *several* numbers routing into the
> device it ended up at.
>
> Since it was received on that device, during my lunch break, I answered it
> as I would at my desk, professionally.
>
> No preamble; he just went straight into his pitch, first wanting to know
> what department I was in. I refused to answer, and asked what I could do to
> assist him, because I do not volunteer information if I can help it, esp.
> for an unsolicited call, and that's when he asked if we could block him,
> and prevent him from calling us.
>
> At that point, I told him that we are not a telephony service provider
> (instead we offer tools and services that help *monitor* telephony
> networks--both VoIP and PSTN), and that we do not offer such services, upon
> receipt of which he promptly hung up. No "Thank you for your time" or
> anything like that; just ... gone.
>
> Now here's the weird part.
>
> I would *swear* that this was a fully automated call. But if it was, it
> was *very well* done. It actually responded to me as quickly as I would
> expect a live person to do. But despite that prompt response, something
> about it felt off, even though it *sounded* fully human. *Almost* like
> someone was using ChatGPT, or similar, to generate the text prompts,
> combined with advanced TTS.
>
> I did have a similar call, years ago (I think about 8?), and it took me 5
> minutes before I suspected enough that I actually asked, at which point it
> actually told me it was a Microsoft lab project, testing out an advanced
> response IVR. Fortunately, this was a call I had initiated, so that didn't
> bother me too much.
>
> So maybe this is somebody simply testing an automated IVR? Although that
> does feel unethical, and it also does make me worry that it's just a
> lead-in to something more. This could be scammers testing out a fully
> AI-based social engineering attack vector.
> On 9/19/23 10:52, Christopher Aloi via VoiceOps wrote:
>
> Hey All,
>
> I have a new one.
>
> We (hosted phone provider) have received three calls today from an
> individual asking us to block him from calling our company.  I can't figure
> out his end game.  He's tried multiple times and didn't explain why when
> questioned.  He said multiple times he wanted his number to be blocked from
> calling our company.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> Could it be a social engineering attempt?  What for?
>
> Chris
>
>
>
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