Techniques for protecting telephone users from caller ID spoofing attacks

US8135119B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Trend Micro Incorporated · JP

Inventors

• Xiaoming Zhao · Nanjing, CN
• Gang Chen · Sammamish, US
• Kan Dong · Nanjing, CN

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 4, 2008
• Grant date: Mar 13, 2012
• Expiry date: Oct 31, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04M1/7385
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A caller ID verifier may be employed to protect telephone users against caller ID spoofing. The caller ID verifier may be implemented in a telephony apparatus, such as a smart phone, stand alone caller ID device, or telephone network infrastructure, for example. Telephone numbers of related callers may be grouped into caller groups. The caller ID verifier may be configured to play one of several audio messages depending on the caller group of the telephone number corresponding to the caller ID of the telephone call. An audio message may include a question. The caller ID verifier may forward the telephone call to the telephone user when the caller answers the question correctly. Otherwise, the caller ID verifier may terminate the telephone call and give the telephone user the option to return the telephone call using the caller ID.