JamesWhitehead
Piffle Prospector
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2001
- Messages
- 14,199
There was a very rudimentary form of phone-phreaking which created a minor scandal in my Hall of Residence way back. It had evidently been in use for years by UK students but college alarm-bells rang when overseas numbers started to ratchet up their losses.
Students phoning home would use the isolated pay-phone in "B-Block." Recipient of the call could immediately call them back via the operator, reversing the charges. Student would generously accept the call, on behalf of the college. This would not work in call-boxes, which used an X as part of the number to designate them, but the university had no safeguards to prevent this simple wheeze! More innocent times!
Students phoning home would use the isolated pay-phone in "B-Block." Recipient of the call could immediately call them back via the operator, reversing the charges. Student would generously accept the call, on behalf of the college. This would not work in call-boxes, which used an X as part of the number to designate them, but the university had no safeguards to prevent this simple wheeze! More innocent times!
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