*57 Call Trace

@Bob.Mc

It sounds like this is the code for the call trace feature.  It is intended to track the call for law enforcement purposes.  Once we receive a request from law enforcement for the call information any info we have would be provided as per applicable laws.

*57 was originally set up as a way to report "threatening" or "harrassing" phone calls.   The phone company was supposed to look into it.  After 3 times (you pushing *57), the police might be notified.   It is sometimes called "Malicious Caller Identification".

You wouldn't normally use it to chase telemarketers and spammers who bother you on the phone.  Don't waste your time hitting *57 for spam.  Double-check to see if there is a charge for using *57.  You don't want to be paying for it, too.

yak said:

*57 was originally set up as a way to report "threatening" or "harrassing" phone calls.   The phone company was supposed to look into it.  After 3 times (you pushing *57), the police might be notified.   It is sometimes called "Malicious Caller Identification".

OK, I won't use it for the annoying spam calls, but that leaves open the question of whether Cox can identify the spam

callers real number?

Bob.Mc said:

whether Cox can identify the spam

callers real number?

Sometimes? It depends on how that person is calling you. If they are calling from a normal phone provider, and a normal phone, then their phone provider system (ex ATT) sends a signal to Cox's phone system,  telling them the caller ID data. There are several different lines of code that is transmitted, so sometimes Cox can see more then your seeing, but sometimes that's also faked. Telemarketers are usually using a phone system designed just for telemarketers, that allow them to falsify all the different caller ID data, so its pointless to track those. 

Hi Bob,

Tecknowhelp is correct; it depends on the technology used to place the call. Current technology makes it easy for scammers to fake or "spoof" caller ID information, making it impossible to trust the number that shows on your Caller ID display. "Carmen" from "Cardholder Service" called me over 50 times in a two-month period last year. I started tracking every phone number as it appeared in my Caller ID and I reported each instance to the FCC. The calls finally stopped.

If you have Caller ID and receive a call from a telemarketer without the required Caller ID information, if you suspect that Caller ID information has been falsified, or you think the rules for protecting the privacy of your telephone number have been violated, you can file a complaint with the FCC. There is no charge for filing a complaint, and it is easy to do online. Learn more at www.fcc.gov/guides/unwanted-telephone-marketing-calls.

Becky said:

...

Learn more at www.fcc.gov/guides/unwanted-telephone-marketing-calls.

When you follow that link, it doesn't look like the topic is unwanted calls, but if you search

for "robocalls"  , it comes up with lots of interesting reading. Thanks.

You're right, Bob. Sorry about that! It looks like the FCC reorganized their consumer information and simplified the complaint form. Here's an article about unwanted calls: https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us/articles/202873880-Rules-and-Resources-for-Dealing-with-Unwanted-Calls-and-Texts.