Notes on Voice Fraud

An example of Voice Phishing fraud was exposed today involving a mydivert.com user.

Voice Phishing, also known as Vishing is the criminal use of telephone communications, most often using features facilitated by Voice over IP (VoIP), to gain access to private personal and financial information. While scams such as Email Phishing have been around for some time, Voice Phishing exploits the public's trust in landline telephone services, which have traditionally terminated in physical locations which are known to the telephone company, and associated with a bill-payer.

It should be understood by anyone using mydivert.com that although the technology provides flexability, and fantastic communication opportunites, it should not be seen as an anonymous service. At any time, a law enforcement agency may contact us requesting the user information for a purchased phone number, and we are obliged to forward these details. This policy is intended to protect the interests of the general public, mydivert.com users, and the VoIP business model.

In a case such as that exposed today, a potential fraudster should understand that the complete call history, IP history, and all other user data is passed to law enforcement agencies.