[asterisk-biz] 44-70x Numbers: Block? Evil?

[Linus Surguy]

> This weekend a bunch of people with fraudulent credit cards hit my 
> business
> and set up a bunch of forwarding to +44 70x numbers.  Not having done much
> work in the UK yet, I didn't know what these were until I read this:
>
>   http://www.joewein.de/sw/419-phone-uk.htm#phone-uk
>
>   "Most "419" scams using +44 70xx numbers involve emails that are sent
>    from Nigeria and other West African countries, not from the UK! If you
>    see a +44 70xx number in a 419 scam email it usually means you're 
> dealing
>    with criminals based in Nigeria."
>
> When I tried it in Skype, skype also blocked the 44 70x number.
>
> Do most ITSPs block +44 70x?  Are there other numbers like this that 
> should
> be blocked?  Is it only ITSPs that block it, where traditional telephony
> companies are simply more than happy to connect your call?  Are ITSPs here
> to provide dial-tone and connectivity regardless of how good or bad the
> call might be?

This is a case of reading too much into the information. It is quite correct 
that most 419 scams, with +44 70 numbers are from West Africa, but that 
doesnt mean that all +44 70 are 419 scams!

It is probably true to say that there is a higher percentage of fraudsters 
on this range than other +44 ranges, but fraud occurs on all number types, 
and blocking these numbers 'just because' doesnt really make sense.

What you do find though, is that some international carriers won't include 
them in their price plans as the (international -> UK) termination cost is a 
bit higher than that of UK Mobile(cell) calls, but share a similar number.

This is the most likely reason that Skype doesnt carry them (i.e. their 
carrier doesnt), than any moral judgement on their part.

If you want suggestions for a 'tough' anti-fraud policy, then only sign up 
customers you know have a verifiable landline (and not mobile phone, or 
other) number type.

Linus