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IP Relay - Credit card use through IP Relay
What´s meant: IP Relay?
IP Relay Operator 7624:
Telecommunications Relay Service, also known as TRS, Relay Service, or IP-Relay, is an operator service that allows people who are Deaf,
Hard–of–Hearing, Speech–Disabled, and DeafBlind to place calls to standard telephone users via TDD (TTY), personal computer or other
assistive telephone device.
Most TRS operators use regular keyboards to transcribe spoken voice as text for relaying. However, some TRS services may use stenotype or
stenomask equipment, similar to those used by court reporters and closed captioning systems.
Video Relay Service
Main article: Video Relay Service
Video Relay Service (VRS), allows people who use Sign Language are able to place phone calls by signing instead of typing. The VI
(video interpreter) uses a webcam or videophone to voice the Deaf or Speech-Disabled person's signs to the Hearing person and sign the
Hearing person's words to the Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing person.
Accessibility
As much of the TRS system, particularly the Internet Relay Services, is open for public use; it is possible for anyone with the proper
equipment to place calls. This includes people who are not members of the original intended user group, who are Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, or
Speech–Disabled. Some such users have noted its usefulness in making long-distance or local calls free of charge and without a telephone.
Providers defend the accessibility even to people who have neither hearing nor speech disabilities as a necessary evil. This is because
the principle of "transparency" - the belief that the operator and the mechanics of relay should generally go as unnoticed as possible in
the call - requires that relay be as easy to use as a normal telephone, which does not require any kind of verification for Hearing people
to use. Leaders in the Deaf community defend this decision and generally retain strong support among service users with hearing and
speech disabilities.
Fraudulent uses
The open structure of relay services has lead to a number of complaints regarding its use as a vehicle for fraud. In 2004, news outlets
such as MSNBC and the Arizona Daily Star ran stories of reported abuse of the relay system, such as users from international locations
calling businesses in the United States to fraudulently purchase goods. This has also generated numerous complaints, particularly by
those who were employed as relay operators, that so-called "prank calls," where neither user requires the service and the caller is jus
"Eighty-five to 90 percent" of calls were scams. Since it is illegal for relay service companies to keep records, fraudulent users can
operate with impunity. Fraudulent calls of both types have been cited as reasons for further relay regulation, and as causes for long
hold times that must be endured by many legitimate users.
Credit card use through IP Relay
In another variation of the scam, the scammer places calls through IP Relay, a US federally funded internet telerelay service for
deaf/hard of hearing/speech-disabled individuals. The scammer calls various businesses, attempting to purchase items with stolen or
fraudulent credit cards.
Oftentimes, individuals are targeted as well, most of whom have advertised a product or service online.
Typically, in an IP-Relay scam call, the scammer will place several calls using a Relay Operator. Calling to businesses or private
parties, the scammer will inquire about merchandise/services offered, and then immediately and with few questions asked, attempt to
purchase the merchandise. The scammer (who refer to each other as "guyman") then proceeds to ask the potential victim (known in Nigeria
as a "Mugu"; a Lagos pidgin word for "fool") for an e-mail address, by which he can contact the victim to proceed with the closing of the
fraudulent transaction. en.wikipedia.org
The scammer proceeds to send the victim a counterfeit cheque or money order, with instructions requiring that it be cashed, and that
excess funds be sent back to the scammer (advance fee fraud). When it is determined by the authorities that the money order is counterfeit,
the victim is usually arrested and charged with various offenses relating to the scam.
Credit-card fraud is not the only kind of fraud reported through IP Relay. A relay scammer typically will use IP Relay for all
fraudulent-related transactions/telephone calls within the United States. en.wikipedia.org
Often a scammer will browse through online classified ads (such as craigslist.org) and will use the IP Relay service to contact
sellers to make inquiries about the item listed in the ad. Most commonly the scammers target persons whose ads advertise live animals
(i.e. puppies), automobiles, high-dollar electronic devices, etc. In this scenario, the scammer sends the seller a cheque for the
advertised item with an overpayment- The victim is given instructions to cash the cheque or moneyorder and to wire the remaining balance
via Western Union or Moneygram. The victim is at a loss in this situation when the authorities discover the cheque/money order is not
legitimate.
Because of current FCC regulations and confidentiality laws, operators are required to relay every call verbatim and must adhere to a
strict code of confidentiality and ethics. Thus no relay operator is permitted to make judgements about the legality and/or legitimacy of
any relay call and must relay the call without interference. As such, the relay operator cannot warn victims even when they suspect that
the call is a scam; Some sources claim that up to half of all IP relay calls are scams.
Some IP Relay companies have certain fraud criteria in which a supervisor is able to come on the line and inform the person that has been
called that the call "fits a pattern of fraudulent and illegal activity". It is then up to the voice person whether or not he or she
wishes to continue the call.
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