Cellular phones topics - Can someone clone you mobile just calling you?

Author

Can someone clone you mobile just calling you?

rodrigostrauss@gmail.com

2005-11-17, 5:48 pm

I received an e-mail urging you to not accept calls from a specific
number. If you do, your cell phone you be cloned. AFAIK, when you call
someone there's no way to get enough info about the other cell fone to
clone it.

I'm almost sure this assertion is false, but I would like to know some
technical details. I've already read the wikipedia article about
mobiles, but there's no much detail about the protocol itself.

Regards,

Strauss

Evan Platt

2005-11-19, 5:48 pm

On 17 Nov 2005 05:44:28 -0800, rodrigostrauss@gmail
.com wrote:

>I received an e-mail urging you to not accept calls from a specific
>number. If you do, your cell phone you be cloned. AFAIK, when you call
>someone there's no way to get enough info about the other cell fone to
>clone it.
>
>I'm almost sure this assertion is false, but I would like to know some
>technical details. I've already read the wikipedia article about
>mobiles, but there's no much detail about the protocol itself.

Can't be done.

Don't know about the 'technical details' of how it can't be done -
that's like saying "I heard the government has a mind control device
that fits in your pocket. I don't believe it. I want the technical
details of how it can't be done."

Let me put it this way: If someone could clone your phone by just
having you answer:

1. They probably wouldn't need you to answer.

2. They'd be smart enough to be able to fake the phone number they're
calling from. Hence an alert of "Don't answer any calls from
111-222-3333 would be obsolete as soon as the guy learns people know
of that number and he changes it.
--
To reply, remove TheObvious from my e-mail address.

David L

2005-11-19, 11:48 pm

====================
==================
Humm. Sounds like a hybrid of two of the below.
Cell phones are cloned from picking up ID information over the
airwaves, by special equipment and then programed into other phones.
Analog phones are the usual targets, this includes digital phones that
are operating in analog mode and are also vulnerable.

Usually it's infomation that is sent in the clear that allows cloning
and the various authentication coding and spectrum manipulation methods
used in modern digital phones, make them highly resistant to cloning.
But I can't explain the technical specifics.
The only thing that's transmited over a wireline during a cell phone
call is the phone number itself and not the codes that the cellular
phone uses to establish identity with the tower. AFAIK

http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/mobile.htm

Call Forwarding Scam

Virus name: Mobile Phone virus (aka ACE-? and UNAVAILABLE)

Status: False.

Examples:

[Collected on the Internet, 2002]

If you receive a phone call and your mobile phone displays ACE-? on the
screen DON'T ANSWER THIS CALL - END THE CALL IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU ANSWER
THE CALL, YOUR PHONE WILL BE INFECTED BY THIS VIRUS.

This virus will erase all IMEI and IMSI information from both your
phone and your SIM card, which will make your phone unable to connect
with the telephone network.You will have to buy a new phone.

This information has been confirmed by both Motorola and Nokia.

There are over 3 million mobile phones being infected by this virus in
USA now.

You can also check this news in the CNN web site.

Please forward this piece of information to all your friends.

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/scams/forward.asp

Claim: Scammers con victims into forwarding their phones to other
numbers.

Status: True.

Example: [Collected on the Internet, 2004]

To All:

Last Tuesday morning my wife fell victim to a phone scam and I want to
alert everyone I know about this fraud. She got a "wrong" number call
asking for "Jason." When she said he had the wrong number he faked
panic and said "please don't hang up."....

http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/809.asp

Status: Real fraud, but its usage is rare and most victims are taken
for only a small amount of money.

Example: [Collected on the Internet, 2000]

DON'T EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809

This one is being distributed all over the US. This is pretty scary
especially given the way they try to get you to call. Be sure you read
this & pass it on to all your friends & family so they don't get
scammed! Don't respond to Emails, phone calls, or web pages which tell
you to call an "809" Phone Number. This is a very important issue of
Scam Busters! because it alerts you to a scam that is spreading
*extremely* quickly - can easily cost you $24,100 or more, and is
difficult to avoid unless you are aware of it. This scam has also been
identified by the National Fraud Information Center and is costing
victims a lot of money.

LinkBot