Phone Lore

Someone sent me a note about some “scam” involving land phones and how dialing “9“, “0“, “#” will let someone make long-distance calls using your phone account. Now, usually these chain emails are just plain false and are basically the most primitive form of email worm known. But amazingly, in some limited circumstances (old-fashioned PBX, bad security setup, etc) this can work. This article and this one explain the background. This chain contains the faintest nugget of truth at its core and is therefore probably more pernicious than a completely false one. I am reminded of the old Cancer–Kid–Needs–Cards ones that were so virulent a few years back.