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Ocean County Phone Punx 02
Ocean County Phone Punx Presents
OCPP02
June 26, 1997
Contents
Intro-Mohawk
Scammers Handbook-Mohawk
Examples of Scams-Mohawk
950 numbers-Mr. Seuss
Slough of Despair-Checkmate
Key Components of the Digital Switch-Mohawk
Lineman Scams-Phear
Intro - Mohawk
Well I guess were an official zine now. I want to thank everyone
who has helped us and everyone who has emailed us saying how much we helped
them. Keep the mail commin. This issues main focus is on scams. The
issues will come out the 26th of every other month until the zine gets
to big and it needs to be released monthly.
Scammers Handbook - the dos and donts of scamming - Mohawk
When scamming there are certain rules you should follow so that you
dont get busted. These "dos and donts should help you.
People that shouldnt scam
-If your stupid dont scam. In order to keep yourself out of jail you have
to be smart.
-If you cant lie good. Not only do you need to be able to lie good, you
have to be able to lie in an instant.
-If you have a criminal record. If youve never been in trouble before the
police, storeowner, whoever will most likely believe your story. Also, the
judge will let you go on probation if someone presses charges against you.
-Little kids. No body believes little kids and everyone suspects them.
Dos
-Keep your mouth shut. When you pull off a scam, dont tell anyone. People
love to tell all their friends about how you ripped off a store. Also, if
they ever wanted to they could hold it against you if you ever piss them off.
-Read the news paper. Check out the police report published in your local
paper. Try to read this as much as possible. Look for people pulling off
scams and people getting caught scamming or stealing. This will tell you
what stores have a lot of security and which scams not to do. You can also
get ideas for scams and learn form other peoples mistakes.
-Pay attention. When your at a store or where ever try to pay attention to
the way people work, the stores return policies, and the intelligence of
the employees. If you do this, you can spot the potential for a great scam.
-Learn the store policy. Go to a store an ask them about their return
policy. See if you can spot any loop holes in it.
-Think. Give your scam some thought. Run it through your mind over and
over again. Maybe you can perfect it, maybe youll realize that its very
risky.
-Plan ahead. Plan for the worst possible situation. If you get caught,
what are you gonna do or say?
-Get a friend to help. Youll need a good friend to help you. Make sure
you have something on him just incase he ever wants to bust you.
-Start small and work your way up. Start with something small like a free
soda not a free computer.
-Look different. When you try to scam something, look different than you
normally do. Wear your hair a certain way, wear glasses, and put on clothes
that you dont normally where. A hat works good too.
-Be Patient. Some scams take time. Dont expect the scam to pay off right
away.
-Use Cash. You have to spend money to make money so make sure you use cash
and not a check or credit card. If the store catches on to you, theyll
have all the info they need to find out where you live.
Donts
-Dont get greedy. This is a way a lot of people get caught, they find a
great way to get something for free and they do it over and over again.
Every store will eventually catch on to your scam. It may take a day or a
year but they will catch on. Quit while your ahead.
-Never admit to anything. If you do get caught never admit it. Deny
everything for as long as you have to.
-Dont scam your work. Stores suspect their employees more than they suspect
their customers. Use your work to learn about scams but never do them there.
-Dont go back to the place that you scammed right away. If you scammed
something really big never go back there. They might still be lookin for
you.
-Dont go back to a chain store. If you scammed a chain store such as 7-11
or Mc Donalds, stay away from all of them in your area for a while. When a
chain store even thinks that they got scammed, they send faxes out to the
main office who then fax all the stores in the area describing what the
people looked like and what they did in hopes of catching them.
-Dont scam a lot of things in a small period of time. After you scam
something big, lay low for about a month or two to make sure that you really
got away with it. This way if you do get busted your excuse will look
better. If you have to go to court the judge will give you a much lighter
sentence since its a one time thing. If you scammed 5 computers from 5
different stores in less than 2 months your excuse wont hold up at all and
the judge will give you a much heavier sentence.
-Dont think your Scam Master J cuz I am. If your not careful you will be
caught. Never get over confident and think that you will always get away
with your scams.
Examples of Scams
Easter Candy
Get one of those easter candy order forms from school or wherever
you can get it from. Go around to an old age community if you have one by
you. Tell them that you are selling candy for school and that all the
money is going to help save the school's sports because tax cuts have
threatened to eliminate all of scholastic activities. (Oh no not that what
are all the dumb jox going to do?) They we be more than gladly to help
because you seem trustworthy. Only accept cash because you'll get busted if
you try to cash their checks. If they get pissed about that tell them it is
school policy to only accept cash because they got to many bad checks. If
they still won't give you cash, thank them for their time and remind them
that because of them there we be no sports and therefore nothing to keep you
out of trouble and that you will harass them constantly for the next ten
years.
Walk-A-Thons
No old age homes? Have no fear! Don't you hate when people ask you
to contribute to them walk-a-thon things, well now you too will be annoying,
but rich. You can either get a form from a real walk-a-thon and use that
or you can make your own. I suggest getting real forms and then photo
copying the hell out of them. Now go around to every one you know and ask
them to pledge for you. You can even get desperate and put a picture of a
deformed kid on there and say it is your brother. Some colleges say that
you have to participate in order to get in so you can even throw a college
name up top and say you need to get enough pledges in order to get accepted.
Free Electronics
Attention customers free walkmans in isle 6! This scam works in
most big department stores but it all depends on the layout of the store
and the stores security. The electronics department is usually pretty busy,
but if it isn't come back when it is. First go to a different department
and get a bag, make sure it is a normal store bag. Go over to electronics
and pick up a walkman and carry it over to the register and ask for a
refund. They will ask for a receipt and of course you don't have it so
say you don't have one. They will either say you can exchange it for
the same one or they will day that there is nothing they can do and then
you say oh shit I guess I am stuck with this and I have to keep it. Put
it in the bag and walk out. Presto new walkman.
Computer Upgrades
You should have a friend help you with this one because if you get
caught you can't talk you're way out of it. Go to a computer or
electronics store and buy something like a graphics card or anything really
good and expensive. Don't open it, just leave it in your car. The next
day wait on line with just a receipt. Have your friend go over and get the
exact same thing off the shelves and then he comes over to you and hands you
it and you car keys to make it look like he got it out of your car. Make
sure you do this in front of an employee at the register. Tell them you
want you to return it and they will call you a dumbass and tell you to go
over to customer service down yonder. Go over there tell them your computer
blew up and you wanna return this and get your money back. They give you
your money back and you still have the the first one you bought in
your car. There ya go free computer upgrades.
Fast food places
Fast food places are just waiting to be scammed. There are so many
ways to scam them its amazing they stay in business.
In a place that has free refills get a cup off a table and take it
to the counter. Ask them for another cup because yours is dirty. They
wont hesitate to give you a new one. When youre done with the cup keep
it and bring it back next time you come. Youll never have to pay for
another drink again.
Call them up and say they screwed up your order. Be really bitchy
about it. They will offer you a free meal to replace what they screwed up.
It helps if you say the employees were very rude to you. You can also call
them up and say they forgot something that you paid for, like fries or
something.
In places that dont have free refills get another cup off another
table and fill it with a little soda if theres none in there. Fill the
rest of the cup up with water. Go to the register and say that the soda is
really watered down. Theyll give you a new soda.
Dont have enough money for a bacon cheeseburger? Order a hamburger
and two minutes later go back to the counter and say they forgot the bacon
and cheese. They give you a nice hot bacon cheese burger. Youre not
getting it for free but youre savin a dollar.
Gas Station Fun
(thanks to the ASSASIN for this part on gas stations)
If you work at a gas station there are a lot of ways to make some
extra money. After you empty a few quarts of oil in someones car keep a
few empty ones on the shelf and make them look like theyve never been
opened. When some one asks you to put 3 or more quarts in their engine
put in 2 full and pretend youre putting in the empty one. Make sure you
do this only when they ask for 3 or more because if someones oil light
is on and it is still on after you put in a quart they will get suspicious.
When someone gives their gas card dont give it back. Most of the
time they will forget to ask for it. The next time someone says ten regular
put it on the gas card you stole and keep the ten dollars. Do this until
the gas card is maxed out.
Whole sale
Another way to get stuff for cheap is to pretend that you are a real
company. Look in magazines for ads that say wholesale orders only or
something like that. If you dont see these ads call up places and ask
them if they have a wholesale order line. Call up and make up a fake
company name. Tell them the last company you ordered through really
screwed you over and you just want to try out this company first and
that youre gonna order in small quantities for a while. Tell them
you will evaluate their service first and if they do good, you will order
a lot from them and that you will tell youre friends about them too.
Eventually they might keep calling you and asking you to order. If that
happens make up some crap like your business is closed, it moved, or
you have already ordered from them under a different company name because
you have more than one company.
Movie theater
Buy a movie ticket. Go in and get it ripped and them head for the
bathroom. Stay there for a minute and then walk back out. Go outside and
give your friend the ticket stub. Walk back in and go to the bathroom
again. They wont ask you for your ticket because they just saw you 2
minutes ago. Then your friend walks in and shows them his ticket. He
meets you in the bathroom and then you 2 go and enjoy the movie. If
they ask you for your ticket pretend like your looking for it and then
after 2 minutes of frantically searching tell them you dont have it.
Bitch at them and then they will let you go. It is important you go right
to the bathroom first because sometimes they watch you and if your in
the bathroom they will forget about you.
If you want to do the scam by yourself buy a ticket and fold it in
half. Flash it past the guy collecting the tickets. He will think that
your ticket has already been ripped. When the movie is over go back to the
window and ask for your money back. Say you couldnt see the movie. Youll
have to fill out a form and youll have your cash back.
Free Magazines
Have your friend go into a convenience store and put a magazine into
the middle of a newspaper. Make sure you both have it work out before hand.
Have him leave and then you walk in. Pick up the newspaper with the
magazine in it walk up to the register. Dont wait on line, just drop the
money one the counter and say you just got a paper and walk out. You just
bought a magazine and a newspaper for 50 cents.
Free Playstation games
If you have a playstation you better stop paying for games. Find a
store with a good return policy, something like you can get your money back
up to ten days of your purchase. Buy the game and after 9 days save it on
your memory card. Bring it back to the store and get your money back. The
next day go back and buy it again. Repeat the process until you beat the
game.
Free stuff in the mail
This one is easy. Call up a place and order something or wait
for a place to call you and ask you if you want them to send you something.
This is one of the only times where you should use your credit card. When
it comes keep it but dont open it yet just incase. Now UPS has
electronic shipping and when you sign it, they have your signature on
thier computer, so if they ask you to sign something just shut the door.
When it shows up on your credit card call them up and bitch at them. Act
really pissed. Say you never ordered anything and you never got anything.
Make sure you didnt sign for it when it came. Tell them that some evil
hackers are out to make your life a living hell and this is just another
one of those times. If worse comes to worse just send it back to them.
It is the law that if anyone sends you something in the mail you didnt
order you have the right to keep it.
Free admission
Find a place like a county fair, carnival or anyplace that stamps
your hand so that they know you paid to get in. Find out the color of the
stamp and get a marker of the same color. Try to draw the stamp on your
hand the best you can. Now wet your hand and smear it around really good.
When you go back in show your stamp and act really suprised that its
smeared. Say you washed your hands. Theyll let you in no problem.
Collectin for baseball
Break out your old baseball, football or whatever uniform and go
stand in front of a convenience store with a cup. If you dont have a
uniform go to a consignment shop and buy one. Open and hold the door for
people as they leave. On your cup or jar write something like save our
sports. Tell people that your raising money to keep sports in your school
because the budget cuts cant support them. You can do this at a lot of
different stores. This scam may sound like begging but youd be amazed at
how many people put 1 and 5 dollar bills in the jar. Kids do this all
the time where I work and they make 1000's in a weekend.
Insurance for your car
This is a very risky scam and you should never so this. This is
here for you to learn as all these scams are. Well if you have a pretty
shitty car and you know its gonna die soon why not get some money for it.
Make sure you have good insurance that covers collision. You need a friend
for this. Drive down a highway in your car and have your friend drive next
to you. Wait till someone gets on your ass, you wont have to wait long.
Then give your friend a signal and have him drive in front of you and cut
you off. You then hit your breaks and the car behind you rams your ass.
Your friend drives away and you couldnt catch the license plate. The
person that hit you has to pay for your car because it is all his fault.
You then collect the insurance for your car because it is totaled.
These scams are here for you to learn to protect yourself from being
scammed. You should not try these anywhere. In future issues we will have
more scams.
950 numbers-Mr.Seuss
In conjunction with the Seuss Labs Crew
Introduction
950 numbers (also known as Feature Group B), provide voice quality
toll-free phone access to a variety of end users (typically IECs). FGB is
either in the (old) format of 950-1xxx or the (current) format of 950-xxxx.
It's the last 4 digits (called the carrier identification codes) that make
950 numbers unique. CICs are assigned by Bellcore.
The big reason why 950 numbers aren't a more popular option for toll
free service is that specific number can't always be reached. The rigorous
hardware requirements for 950 service also stifle their popularity.
Routing and hardware
FGB trunking is a complex matter. Toll offices that allow FGB access
have a bank of trunks running directly to the subscriber. As soon as you
dial the prefix 950, you are first routed through the toll network over
either common transport trunks, specific 950 trunks, or the most common
option, FGD tandems, and then to the office serving that number. From there,
you are then connected to that number's private trunk group.
The most common method for outgoing calls is to have the subscriber
MF into an access tandem (assuming that MF trunks are in use), and then
have the tandem office complete the call.
There are a handful of hardware requirements for supporting FGB.
The following is required at the customer's premise:
A bank of trunks running from their hardware to the toll office
A time division multiplexer (TDM) to multiplex and demultiplex the trunk
group.
Equipment to place outgoing calls (typically MFing hardware).
An ANI controller to dechiper ANI impulses.
Features and options
950s can be configured in a variety of ways. External features
controlling call routing, and providing fraud protection are available
to the end subscriber.
Answer/disconnect:
950 service provides a supervision feature at the POP, so as soon
as the connection at the customer's end is lost, the call is torn down.
Hunt groups:
A FGB trunk can be terminated in a hunt group (like a WATS line),
provided a leased line is run between the customer and the CO. The line
being the only way to provide sufficient bandwidth to terminate multiple
voice channels.
Extended outlets:
Theoretically, a 950 number can terminate in an extended outlet
like a WATS extender.
Special routing (like point of origin, time, etc.):
MF signaling:
Yes, MF signaling is still used on certain FGB trunks. Dont get any
funny ideas about blueboxing off these numbers, in the usual fashion anyway.
However, it *might* still be possible to bluebox here. If you were to tap
into a trunk where it joins the subscriber's hardware, you could
theoretically seize a trunk and MF calls just like you were the
subscriber's equipment. As you're backwards on the trunk, *forward* audio
mute will not apply.
Whats out there?
So what exists in this big, bad realm? Some pretty nifty stuff.
Direct lines to many long distance companies, a few COs, credit card
verification numbers, extended outlets, and most of all... nothing (but a
switch recording telling you your call cant be completed as dialed).
SLOUGH OF DESPAIR-Checkmate
A cyberpunk short story
I lit my cigar as I looked out over the hazy, translucent clouds
outside the reinforced window. A sense of security these windows were
believed to provide, with their bullet resistance. Resistance, a strange
word at best. As I took another long, sweet puff, I could feel the filter
in my throat whirring to life. A fine Cuban, I thought as a rivulet of thin
bluish smoke rose to the ceiling.
As I looked upon the glare outside the office window, I saw the
clean, dark calm of the night above. Below, through the haze, I saw the
riots. The hands of millions banging at my door, clapping synchronously to
a beat. All these people, mislead by a leperous campaign, only now
uncovering the truths that I thought had long been beaten dead. All the
reporters, the hackers and conspirators which dispersed the seed of fear
into the people I had thought long ago they were done away with. Even the
best cleaning teams aren't perfect, I guess.
I took another puff, savoring its flavor until the taste turned
sour. What a damn shame it is, I thought. What a damn shame.
Key components of the digital switch-Mohawk
The typical digital switch has four essential components: the
central processor, the switch matrix, a range of peripherals, and
input/output controllers.
Central Processor
The central processor controls call processing activities for
example, assigning time slots and administering features such as call
forwarding as well directing system-control functions, system maintenance,
and the loading and downloading of software. To ensure reliability, the
central processor is generally duplicated on digital switches. Each call is
processed simultaneously on both processors; if the "hot" processor should
develop a problem, the system automatically shifts to the standby
processor without the caller noticing any interruption of service.
State-of-the-art larger digital switches are increasing processing
power through additional specialized processors for functions such as
frame-relay data, ISDN packet handling, service control point functionality,
etc.. Digital switches for smaller, rural communities often adopt alternate
service access strategies that can be more easily justified for these
markets.
Switch matrix
The switch matrix also referred to as the network handles the actual
connection of calls to their destinations. The latest switching modules,
such as the DMS SuperNode Enhanced Network (ENET), can process up to 64,000
channels in a single cabinet and switch wideband data as effortlessly as a
voice conversation.
Peripherals
The typical digital switch has a range of peripheral modules to
interface the range of lines and trunks coming in from the network. The
peripherals convert incoming voice and data signals into the digital format
used by the switch and perform some low-level call processing tasks. Typical
peripherals include those that terminate lines, trunks, digital loop
carriers, and maintenance trunks.
Input/Output Control
The input/output controller system provides access to the switch for
maintenance, billing, routine operations and administration, and loading of
software.
Linemen Scams-phear.
Well fuck, here we go. Special thanks to whoever feels like
publishing this. After all without information we are all truly lost. Ever
been out beige boxing and thought to yourself, "self, this rules but there
has to be more".. almost as if something was missing? Well ill tell ya, its
not an overwhelming urge to accept the lord as your savior. (so maybe Im a
little bitter) I was out just doing the usual beigeboxing the other night
and I thought to myself. "Why should I be forced to this in the dark at
night in fear of being caught?" And thats when I realized I dont have
too, in fact neither do you.
What better scam then to pretend your a lineman. Hopefully if your
beigeboxing you know enough about phones to be a lineman if not you could
wing it if you had too. So here's what you do. Go buy a white hardhat.
Any white hardhat will do, just as long as it fits right, I mean why be
uncomfortable in the midst of phreaking? Then rummage through your closet
(I know, I know, I wouldnt want to go in there either) until you find a
longsleeve light blue shirt. Grab a pair of jeans too. All right now, put
it all on and look in the mirror.
Believe it or not you will look a whole hell of a lot like a
lineman. Or at least enough for the general public to be fooled. Now what
your missing are tools. No lineman's outfit is complete without tools.
A utility belt isnt a bad idea but not a necessity, I've never used
one. You need a red phone, baseless of course. Preferably a lineman's
handset, but those aren't always just readily available. If you want one
bad enough though just swipe one out of a Bell truck. The important thing
is that whatever phone you have, it's red. Remember were fooling the
general public here. You also have got to have a 7/16" hex driver,
preferably with a red handle but beggars can't be choosers. Hell when you
swipe the phone just swipe the hex driver too. In fact, if you can, take
the whole tool belt.
You also need a small flashlight, poor lighting or something, you
never know. All right, you've got the outfit, tools, and a need to phreak.
Where to phreak at though? I mean you dont have a big white truck
with all sorts of compartments in it to make you totally legit. So you have
to maintain a low profile. Always pick a spot and then park a block from it
and walk there. Starting off you should hit a few houses. Places where
nobody's home, at work or something. Just walk up there and open up the
phonebox, act like you belong there. I guarantee no one will even question
you for a minute. After you feel pretty confident move on to bigger and
better phreaks. Go hit a local business or two, but go inside and tell them
that you were sent from their phone company, whatever it is and that you are
doing a routine check on the lines because there's been some trouble a few
lines down etc.. Then go find the box, if you want, ask them to show you
the phone setup in the building. This is the best way to get confident
about a scam like this. Check it all out, pump them for information. Then
go back to the box and make a few free calls. If your going to go this far
though you should probably have a lineman's handset. Looks a lot more
professional. Then move on to large apartment complexes. These are
especially nice because the lines are always grouped together. At least
four in each box.
So now you have your method down and you feel pretty confident. What
can you really do with these new amazing lineman's powers? Well you know
that jerk your always pranking? Now you can go to his house and fuck his
shit up in broad daylight. In fact go to the door and talk to him about his
phone service for a minute or two. Ask him if he's been having trouble with
the lines, so on so forth. Ask him if he minds if you come in for a minute
and have a look at the phone lines in the house. Walk around and pay
attention. You never know what youll see, potential black mail info, or
maybe a bill with his ss# on it. Then explain to him that due to maintenance
purposes your going to have to disconnect his line for an hour or so. Then
go out to his phone box and do just that. Then go back up to the house and
tell him that you have an emergency and have to go, but you'll be back in
just a few minutes. Leave. Gee, did I forget to hook your shit back up?
Now the next time you call him you can tell him exactly what he looks like
and what his house looks like. He would probably never suspect the lineman.
This would probably be the point where you're wondering if this is
all just bullshit or not. Well, I'll tell ya. Or not. I have done this and
it works. Just maintain a very cool composure. Never act nervous or let
the "victim" think you are unsure of yourself. Never go out any later than
4:00 or so, and don't stay in any one place for more than 20 minutes. One
more cardinal rule, if you see a real lineman, or a phonetruck, get the fuck
out of there. As much as I hate to think about it, impersonating a lineman
is a crime, and so is phone fraud so don't hang around. The linemen will
know a fake when they see one.
That's it. The lineman's scam can be pulled off by anyone, but
don't ever forget that it is a scam, and should be done cautiously. So
if your just tired of the same old beigebox routine and need a change of
pace, just say fuck it. Go be a lineman, you'll thank yourself.
phear <PLA> <OCPP> <HBS>
Ocean County Phone Punx
Copyright 1997
