PLA Forums
Other Stuff That Has Little To Do With PLA => Techinical Shit => Phreaking, Hacking, Social Engineering, Lock Picking => Topic started by: purity on January 22, 2010, 12:36:55 AM
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Keeping in mind that im US-based, what are some of the priciest long-distance numbers that can be called via payphone???
Ten years ago, there were a couple listed somewhere within the PLA website, in some article.
I think the reason for me asking for said numbers is obvious: "After putting my money in, i dialed, it rang once then disconnected, so i put in 30 more quarters but it just ate 'em!"
I could really use a couple extra $10-$20 checks coming my way (& 'yes', the money is for drugs, of course).
Thanks for any help!
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1. This should be listed under scams.
2. Locate a payphone that ISN'T a cocot and look up on Google how it handles international numbers.
3. Call an international number to an Eastern European or African # and find out how much it costs.
4. Call operator from payphone and explain that your call was disconnected before it was fully connected and you would like them to connect you. Keep in mind how much money that phone can hold in the hopper at one time and how international calls are connected thru that phone company.
5. If they believe you, they will instead inform you they can refund you and send the check in the mail. It will take a few weeks. Don't do it too often from the same phone companies or they will get suspicious, especially since nobody pays $7-10 for 5 minute calls to a foreign country from payphones anymore.
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http://www.phonelosers.org/issue/006/ (http://www.phonelosers.org/issue/006/) is probably the article you're thinking of. It was written in the early 90's, when paying $14.00 in quarters from a pay phone to make a 3 minute call almost made sense. I'm not sure if that's even possible now. It was always AT&T that sent me the checks, but I don't think AT&T accepts quarters anymore. I bet the sketchy long distance companies on Cocots either wouldn't believe you or they'd just refuse to give refunds.
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Thanks. & i appreciate the tutorial, Matt, but ive done this many times, albeit it was years ago.
Now i just have to find the number that costs the most: any suggestions?
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I suggest starting with countries like Georgia, Lithuania, Estonia, Hungary, etc. If you can find somewhere that is slightly behind the curve technologically (lots of extra switching and routing), has a lower international fraud rate (as the phone company may assume fraud if you're trying to call Lagos, Nigeria, for example), and has a possibility of English speakers, then you're good.
What could work well is find numbers for large businesses in other countries. Look up the business on the nation's stock exchange and call. That way, if the operator is inclined enough (after enough attempts) to try to "investigate" why you're calling, you can claim you're looking at investing in these businesses.
As RB said, though, it's hard to find a phone co that still accepts currency, connects int'l calls, and is reputable enough to refund you. If your local phone CO has payphones, or has bought out the old SW Bell, Verizon, or Millenium phones, you may be in luck. If you are in an area with an airport of any size, train station, or Greyhound terminal, this is a great place to start. You being at a travel area would also explain to an operator why you're using a payphone, for example (damnit, I left my cell phone at the airport!)
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Try Cuba.
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Just an FYI but it usually doesn't cost that much to call Eastern European countries. You need isolated island countries. CUba is a great one. A call to the Guantanamo Bay military base is 14 bucks for the first 3 minutes if I remember correctly. The Philippines are expensive too but Cuba is probably the best idea.
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If you can find working Inmarsat satellite numbers, they're usually $6-10 a minute. Cell phones, especially on foreign networks are more expensive to call to (usually by $0.20, but up to $2, depending on country). Try isolated, island nations where you'll be more apt to find older equipment: Nauru, Tuvalu, Christmas Island, The Falklands. Places like that. I'm interested in seeing someone pull this off again, I haven't been able to since about 2001.
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Many years ago, I remember someone mentioning crazy rates to cruise ships being way more expensive than calls to other countries. This was in the late 90's, though, so rates might be a little better these days. Might be worth looking into though.