Way to fake your number when sending an SMS?

[Marrr]

there are quite a few services on the web where you can send a 'joke' sms to your friend from somebody elses number. I'm not doing this for any malicious reason, just joke (and it really does mess with peoples heads, it's a funny thing to do).

is there an app or a way this can be done straight from the phone?

sending a fake sms using one of the services on the web is like

 

[Hawker]

I very much doubt it, and I would imagine this would be illegal.

 

[Riche101]

there are quite a few services on the web where you can send a 'joke' sms to your friend from somebody elses number. I'm not doing this for any malicious reason, just joke (and it really does mess with peoples heads, it's a funny thing to do).

is there an app or a way this can be done straight from the phone?

sending a fake sms using one of the services on the web is like

 

[Slug]

Spoofing the number of a mobile device is certainly illegal in the UK.

 

[Sixel]

Just use someone else's number or just buy a cheap prepaid card. Things like that are illegal and if it isn't it should be.

 

[Marrr]

Spoofing the number of a mobile device is certainly illegal in the UK.

do you actually have a source for this assertion?

i would be very suprised if you can find a piece of UK legislation which specifically outlaws sending an SMS text message with a fake number. It's no different in practice to sending a fake email with somebody elses name and addresses attached to it, just that the later is much easier to achieve in practice due to the implementation of the protocol.

reading the malicious communications act 2003 i would suggest that as long as the communication you sent was not malicious, it would not break the law, simple as.

there are several web services based in the uk, (sharpmail.co.uk which happens not only to be based in the uk, but is a uk registered company) that allows you to send an sms text message by faking the number, they would have been shut down now if they were illegal.

come on guys, let's not be silly.... i don't need a lecture on whether it's legal or not. i'm a big boy. i'm responsible for my own actions.

 

[Slug]

i don't need a lecture on whether it's legal or not. i'm a big boy. i'm responsible for my own actions.

You're not, however, responsible for Android Forums. The owner is, and he's quite insistent that any possible legal pitfalls are made clear to avoid putting himself and his livelihood at risk.

Sending a fake SMS from a computer via the internet is not the same as sending a real one but from a fake number via a device connected to the cellular network.

 

[matttye]

Malicious Communications Act 1988

Offence of sending letters etc. with intent to cause distress or anxiety.

(1)Any person who sends to another person—

(a)a [F1letter, electronic communication or article of any description] which conveys—

(i)a message which is indecent or grossly offensive;

(ii)a threat; or

(iii)information which is false and known or believed to be false by the sender; or

Sending a fake phone number could be classified as "information which is false and known or believed to be false by the sender" depending on how you interpret the act. The joke text itself could potentially fall under this too. Not sure how these types of companies get around it.

I'm no lawyer though

 

[Riche101]

Malicious Communications Act 1988



Sending a fake phone number could be classified as "information which is false and known or believed to be false by the sender" depending on how you interpret the act. The joke text itself could potentially fall under this too. Not sure how these types of companies get around it.

I'm no lawyer though

These companies have strict T&C and ask you to register, they also keep a record of everything sent and anything they do not like gets forwarded to police etc if they feel its bad.

Theses companies are good if you have to txt someone normally but don't want to give out your real number for safety

 

[matttye]

These companies have strict T&C and ask you to register, they also keep a record of everything sent and anything they do not like gets forwarded to police etc if they feel its bad.

Theses companies are good if you have to txt someone normally but don't want to give out your real number for safety

I'm talking about these joke phone call/text companies, not companies like O2 that let you send messages from the web. If sending a fake message is against the law then technically these joke lines shouldn't be able to ring somebody to say that their wife is sleeping with somebody else or whatever..

 

[Riche101]

I'm talking about these joke phone call/text companies, not companies like O2 that let you send messages from the web. If sending a fake message is against the law then technically these joke lines shouldn't be able to ring somebody to say that their wife is sleeping with somebody else or whatever..

I know I'm talking about them as well I once used a site when I was out of credit and they were v strict

 

[matttye]

I know I'm talking about them as well I once used a site when I was out of credit and they were v strict

I've seen ones where you just ring up and tap in a number, no questions asked... they even work if you use 141 when dialling!

 

[SebaKL]

So is in here, in Malaysia. Spoofing is illegal.

However, what I do is, open a new Skype account with some really dorky user name. Buy a minimum credit and use it to SMS friends for pranks.
If you text someone from Skype, you can't see the number, the network only display the Skype user name.
I know it's an extra mile but for example, last Christmas I was the Father Christmas from North Pole asking them for their Gift Lists.

At least this method is legal

 

[Gearu]

I don't like that 3 spam me via SMS and I can't retaliate, number is just '333'.
They should create an even field and legally block them from doing that.

On second thoughts I must look for an app that can block/bounce messages back to them...

 

[Twinn]

I don't like that 3 spam me via SMS and I can't retaliate, number is just '333'.
They should create an even field and legally block them from doing that.

On second thoughts I must look for an app that can block/bounce messages back to them...

depends in what country you currently are but in Irl for example u can send STOP msg and it will stop those nasty msgs.

 

[Gearu]

Heh it's just part of their service. Yesterday I got a message informing me that they were going to ring me on friday (lol), apparently I'm a priority customer (yeah right) and they're going to offer me some upgrade options, The only reason this scientifically makes any sense is because I didn't get my S2 from them.

 

[Shotgun84]

I don't like that 3 spam me via SMS and I can't retaliate, number is just '333'.
They should create an even field and legally block them from doing that.

On second thoughts I must look for an app that can block/bounce messages back to them...

Would this work? Add 333 to you're contacts, open up contact, press menu then select blacklist.