Re: Got questions..We got flimflam

Systemic wrote:
>
> > By definition a (900) number has to have Caller ID or a similar way to
> >know who is calling. (900) numbers bill not only the call itself but
> >also the cost of whatever service is being sold to the phone bill of the
> >calling number, which requires that the call be traced automatically.

I don't quite understand, since the phone company bills the caller for the number why does anybody other than the phone company actually need to know the number? I am sure that the phone company can get your number regardless, after all they have to complete the connection between you system and the system you are calling.

> > So "psychics" on (900) lines can very easily have access to a computer
> >database which, based on phone number returned by the Caller ID, know
> >enough basics to do a good job of fakery.

Just to let you know, my brother is one of the 900 "psychics", he does not use caller ID, he just asks some questions (Birthdate, Birthtime, Birthplace, etc) then uses an Astrological program to 'chart' the caller. He then simply reads the chart. It is usually sufficiently vague so the caller can read into it anything he/she wants.  

> Does that mean that if you did a *69 (the code in my area) to make the call
> private (ie; caller id. returns a "private" on the screen rather than the
> number) that they couldn't bill you? Of course, I guess then they wouldn't
> accept your call anyway.

I suspect that it would work and block caller ID. If you want to know for sure call the phone company.  

> I think maybe I should set up a 900 line for 900 line addicts. Heh. I bet
> you could make a killing off of that.

Might be a good idea at that.

Now one final question. WHAT DOES ALL THIS HAVE TO DO WITH COMP.LANG.C, PLEASE KEEP YOU GARBAGE OFF OUR BANDWIDTH. Thank you.

Alicia Carla Longstreet Received on Wed Nov 06 1996 - 00:00:00 CET