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--></style></head><body lang="EN-CA" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal">Over the last 3 months we have seen a marked increase in dead air calls to Toll Free numbers that belong to us, our customers, etc. </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">If there is an answering machine on the other side, these calls result in a dead air voice message of few seconds in duration. If a live person picks up they won’t hear anything on the other side and the line stays connected (didn’t measure for how long, but more than 60 sec). The volume varies daily but ranges from 0 to 4-5 calls per day. </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Calls come from US ANIs (925, 631 area codes for example), but ANI is easily spoofed so doesn’t really mean much. In fact, when we called some of the numbers we got private residences of folks who did not call us. </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Other than the nuisance factor (our support line is getting the calls as well) and a small additional cost there doesn’t seem to be a real impact. </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Are these just war-dialling attacks to find back doors? </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Is anyone else seeing the same? Are you doing anything to prevent it?</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d">Best Regards,</span><span style></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d"> </span><span style></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d">Ivan Kovacevic</span><span style></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:#1f497d">Vice President, Client Services</span><span style></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d">Star Telecom | <a href="http://www.startelecom.ca/"><span style="color:blue">www.startelecom.ca</span></a> | SIP Based Services for Contact Centers </span><span style></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div></body></html>