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VoIP to Fuel Plague of 'Dialing for Dollars'/Spam

Ant writes "Broadband Reports says Internet News is exploring how telemarketers world-wide are realizing they can dodge long-distance costs (and U.S. "Do Not Call" restraints) by voice spamming VoIP users. Different from SPIT (spam over internet telephony) because it's not automated, an analyst in the article predicts homes and businesses could see some 150 calls a day from overseas call centers."

2 of 396 comments (clear)

  1. Silly Idea by fembots · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What happens if the cost of each almost-continuous call is incremental?

    Say the first 10 VOIP calls are free, and if you make the 11th call within 5 minutes of the 10th call, you pay 1 cent, and if you make your 12th call within 5 minutes of your 11th call, you pay 2 cents, then 4 cents, 8 cents and so on.

    Private callers shouldn't have to pay anything due to the engaging nature of personal calls.

    Businesses will have to register to get exemption from the charges, thus easily identifiable.

    Like spam filters, this won't stop spammers from spamming, but hopefully it's enough to make it less profitable.

    We didn't see email spams coming, but we should definitely do something on VOIP when we have the opportunity.

  2. Re:They will throw themselves upon the firewalls.. by Hoi+Polloi · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Russia, China, India... Who'd have thought these would be new sources of spam?!"

    Make sure you add to your list America's own 2nd/3rd world state, Florida.

    --
    It is by the juice of the coffee bean that thoughts acquire speed, the teeth acquire stains. The stains become a warning