WARNING: Calling back using *67 does NOT necessarily hide your caller ID from ANYONE

  • +1
    Resident47 replies to NotKnown
    | 1 reply
    Taking a fast look around various instructions for DTMF codes or "star codes", I see the phrase "pre-dial" in occasional use, right or wrong. The "dialing" in this sense is the outbound signal to the network, the request to make a connection with someone else ... the whole reason you gripped a phone in the first place. The "pre-dial" sets preferences, and the would-be caller can always decide to halt and not "dial" a subscriber's phone number.

    As in the subsequent example of oven "preheating", the terms are awkward. Yes, you are in fact heating an oven, but again with a goal of reaching a preferred setting before executing the primary activity. I'm in mind of George Carlin's critique of the phrase "previously recorded", which is a strange redundancy given that the show or event can't be recorded after it's done and gone.

    One related phrase is discussed in Chuck Amuck, the brilliant Chuck Jones autobio. His Warner studio's custodian eschewed "hot water heater" for the phrase "cold water heater", finding it silly to heat what's already hot. Never mind that keeping stored water cooked all day and night is most of what that tank does, but this is the place which gave us a skunk stalking a house cat and Martians in oversize tennis shoes.

    In the end we're all guilty of linguistic crimes until someone popularizes a more accurate replacement for "dialing a phone number". We have one rotary dial phone left from the Olden Days and it sits in a barn with other relics.
  • 0
    GregAtTheBeach replies to Resident47
    Do you write for a living?  If not, you should...
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  • 0
    Chris
    | 1 reply
    I called my friend using the code *67 and it still revealed my number why? Then call my friend again and my number came up private ?
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    Becca replies to Chris
    Yes, I normally will use *67 to call back a number I don’t know. I run a business. But I notice sometimes it works & sometimes it doesn’t. I’ll ask my friends when I call them to check & now I’ll call another phone here blocking my # & half the time it works, half the time it doesn’t…
  • 0
    Moe & Curly's Robo Repair
    I don't care if they know my number. I do call backs from my landline,that zaps ALL CALLS ! (*72) !
  • -1
    angry replies to Resident47
    i just call back 3 numbers this morning all 3 answered saying Hello (my name)  so I'm surprised they can now get around caller ID block *67
  • -1
    joe555
    spammer; calls but no one on the line. leaves voicemail, but nothing spoken. it just uses up some voicemail time. calls 3-4 times daily.
  • -1
    tim
    i got a call from this number yesterday didn't answer it
  • -2
    Lestat replies to ANonieMouse
    | 1 reply
    This is why I use burners.....
  • +2
    GregAtTheBeach replies to Lestat
    Ummm...that post was eight years ago...
  • +1
    Autumn
    Dialing *67 does not keep you hidden. They now have software that unlocks that ability to keep your number private. I have called back numbers to only have the other person on the other end knowing my name!! Which is dumb for them because all I am going to do his hang up and block any number you call from with my software.
  • 0
    BackTracer
    | 1 reply
    This is true, as I made the mistake of calling back several scammers using *67 and not only did they know my number, but also my name. On both occasions I called several hours after receiving the calls, so it is not like they knew who I was because they just called me. Also, in both cases, the callers caller ID's were "V" numbers, similar to V40714372800036 if that makes any difference.
  • +1
    GregAtTheBeach replies to BackTracer
    Why on Earth would you call back a number that you strongly suspect is a scammer?  By calling them back, you're giving them one more chance to steal your money, through subterfuge.

    You're playing *their* game, when you should be sending them to the showers.
  • +2
    Tracey replies to Resident47
    1 just called a number back using *67.  Not 800. Not law.  Not phone company.  They answered with, Is this Tracey? So yes, scammers and sales can find a way around.

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