Andy Jordan reports:
Applications that let users change or “spoof” their Caller ID are gaining in popularity in mobile phone app stores, even as Congress considers stalled legislation to outlaw particular uses of the technology, and criminals use it to engage in nefarious activity.
Caller ID spoofing technology allows a user to change the caller ID to show any desired number on a recipients caller ID display. There are currently a handful of companies that offer this service including SpoofCard (and it’s mobile application called Spoof App) and Spoofem, among others.
Most spoofing apps allow pranksters to mask or change their voice as well, and Spoofem actually allows users to fake texts and email. Popular desktop versions are now becoming available online in Blackberry and Droid app stores.
Read more on WSJ.
That sort of activity is outlawed in Australia.
I see very few proper reasons to be doing that (except maybe a large organisation who might want to present its main number rather than individual extensions).
I say, outlaw it for all.