EXPLODING THE PHONE

Abstract

Letter to customers who have ordered the 1974 version of the construction plans, which are currently not available. Letter is almost identical to the ones from October, 1975, except that the price of the catalog is lower, the MF encoder is subtitled blue box in this letter (but not in the later ones), and the later letter lists several additional plans.

Keywords

Teletronics Company of America (TCA); telephone answering device; automatic dialer; black box; call diverter; call limiter; conference bridge; central dial exchange; melodic ringing generator; recorder-actuator; remote control; standard telephone schematics; standard telephone parts list; speakerphone; telelink burglar alarm; voice scrambler; electronic bio-feedback conditioner; horticulture stimulator;multifrequency encoder network; blue box; dodecahedron speaker enclosure; photographic pinhole camera; John Reynolds (TCA)

Source

An anonymous phone phreak

Abstract

Letter tells customers that the company has had some major difficulties which put them behind three months, and lost some orders, but that all orders received during the first part of the year will be processed again.

Keywords

Teletronics Company of America (TCA); John Reynolds (Circulation Mgr., TCA)

Notes / See Also

This letter is not printed on company letterhead, nor does it mention the company name anywhere within the letter. Date estimated based on TCA's corporate existence.

Source

An anonymous phone phreak

Abstract

Letter to customers who have inquired about the construction plans catalog. The letter states that the 1975 version is sold out, and the 1976 version is due back from the printers.

Keywords

Teletronics Company of America (TCA); telephone answering device; automatic dialer; black box; call diverter; call limiter; conference bridge; central dial exchange; melodic ringing generator; recorder-actuator; remote control; standard telephone schematics; standard telephone parts list; speakerphone; telelink burglar alarm; voice scrambler; electronic bio-feedback conditioner; horticulture stimulator;multifrequency encoder network; dodecahedron speaker enclosure; photographic pinhole camera; telephone line relay; telephone hold button; telephone call transferer; unwanted call screener; toll-charge indicator; John Reynolds (TCA)

Notes / See Also

Document collection contains a second copy of this letter dated 1975-10-31.

Source

An anonymous phone phreak

Abstract

Letter to customers who responded to an offer in Popular Electronics magazine for a copy of TEL for $.25. Letter explains why it hasn't been sent yet, what the magazine will contain, and tries to sell the customer a subscription. Magazine Name is listed as Telephone-Electronics-Newsline.

Keywords

Telephone Electronics Line (TEL); Popular Electronics; Teletronics Company of America (TCA); John Reynolds (TCA)

Source

An anonymous phone phreak

Abstract

Letter from John D. deButts, chairman of the board, AT&T, to Clarence M. Kelley, Director, FBI regarding blue box interception of FBI telephone calls. "This refers to your recent letter to me concerning the use of a blue box to monitor telephone calls in the San Francisco area. We are aware of this blue box capability which can occur under certain wiring configurations in our traffic verification trunks and less secure features are applied. The Bell System was alerted to this vulnerability sometime ago, and the security features to prevent it were disseminated. Unfortunately, due to a unique isolated situation in a particular switching office serving a portion of the San Francisco subscribers, the security safeguards built into the circuitry failed. This condition has been eliminated by a modification to ensure it is secure. We are conducting an expeditious review of the verification trunks throughout the system to ensure that they are compatible with our security recommendations which prevent unauthorized access...."

Keywords

John D. deButts; Clarence M. Kelley; FBI; blue box; autoverify; verification; John Draper

Source

Anonymous

Abstract

Letter to new subscribers. Text is virtually identical to letter to potential subscribers.

Keywords

Teletronics Company of America (TCA); Telephone Electronics Line (TEL); call limiter; recorder actuater; multi-frequency encoder; John Reynolds (Circulation Mgr., TEL)

Notes / See Also

Date estimated based on TCA's corporate existence.

Source

An anonymous phone phreak

Abstract

Memo describing Ohio Bell's toll fraud information program which is being proposed as a model PR approach for reducing toll fraud at colleges and universities. Document contains a 2 page letter and 2 pages of a prewritten news story to be used as described in the letter. This letter follows up a meeting, and is sent to 10 people at Northeast Bell companies, and Bill Mullane. Includes prewritten article and advertisments in the college newspaper. The letter also refers to research about toll fraud conducted in 1972 by one of the Bell companies. Flynn says that Ohio Bell's research confirms the results of the earlier research.

Keywords

James Flynn (Gen. Info. Mgr., Ohio Bell); Bill Mullane; Toll Fraud Information Program

Abstract

Letter to AT&T Dataphone customers regarding loop-around data test facilities. Letter included and attachment with loop-around pairs that were quickly used by phone phreaks for anonymous conference-type calls.

Keywords

loop arounds

Source

Alan Rubinstein

Abstract

Memorandum from Henry Geller, general counsel, and Bernard Strassburg, chief, Common Carrier Bureau, Federal Communications Commission to the Commission regarding a proposed statute drafted by communications common carriers concerning the obtaining of communication service by fraud. Consists of a two page cover memo, a one-page draft letter to the Department of Justice, a one-page proposed statute prescribing the fraudulent obtaining of telecommunications service (Exhibit A), and a seven page memorandum from Donald F. Clark, attorney, American Telephone and Telegraph Company dated April 27, 1965 answering questions put forth by FCC staff members Mr. Lesher and Mr. Ohlbaum.

Keywords

Federal Communications Commission; FCC; AT&T; blue box; black box; toll fraud; Henry Geller; Bernard Strassburg

Notes / See Also

The proposed letter number 67749 two the Department of Justice was not approved; a revised letter was approved, see db482.

Abstract

Letter from E. William Henry, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to Fred M. Vinson Jr., assistant attorney general, criminal division, Department of Justice regarding electronic toll fraud. "It appears that... devices have been designed which either attached to a called telephone to prevent the recording of incoming local and long-distance calls, or are used to send out signals in connection with the placing of a call to prevent any registration of the call on telephone company equipment. It further appears that the use of these devices not only is causing and increasing loss of revenue but has also proved to be an aid of persons engaged in criminal activity."

Keywords

gambling; blue box; black box; Federal Communications Commission; FCC

Source

National Archives (FCC Records)

Abstract

Letter in response to LAT article 1971-10-31, "For Whom Ma Bell Tolls Not" Author discusses cost of toll fraud.

Keywords

letter to the editor; toll fraud

Source

ProQuest

Abstract

Letter from D. E. Emerson, VP, AT&T to Chairman of the FCC complaining about an Abbie Hoffman interview on WNET TV in which the credit card code was given out.

Keywords

credit card fraud; Abbie Hoffman

Notes / See Also

See also: db672

Abstract

Letter tells customers that their order has been processed, but their item has not been shipped because the company is in the process of revising their literature.

Keywords

Teletronics Company of America (TCA); D. Rees (TCA)

Notes / See Also

Date estimated based on TCA's corporate existence.

Source

An anonymous phone phreak

Abstract

Letter to potential subscribers, offering them various packages of plans and newsletters about the telecommunications industry.

Keywords

Teletronics Company of America (TCA); Telephone Electronics Line (TEL); construction plans; call limiter; recorder actuater; multi-frequency encoder; John Reynolds (Circulation Mgr., TEL)

Notes / See Also

Date estimated based on TCA's corporate existence.

Source

An anonymous phone phreak

Abstract

The question is about the taxes included on telephone bills; the answer is a rant about taxes, war and the phone company. It then digresses into a description of a visit from an unnamed person who gave "The first official Ramparts mute box plan progress report," and talked about his exploits defrauding the phone company.

Keywords

taxes; Ramparts Magazine

Notes / See Also

This is a telex copy of the letter, put on one page in this format. The Telex header says "The following letter to the editor..." but this actually looks like it was written to an advice columnist called The Troubleshooter.

Abstract

Letter in response to LAT article 1971-10-31, "For Whom Ma Bell Tolls Not" Author contends that Maureen Orth based her article on Ron Rosenbaum's article in Esquire, same year. LAT editor replies that Orth's article was turned in before Rosenbaum's article was published.

Keywords

letter to the editor; Esquire Magazine

Source

ProQuest

Abstract

Letter from Clarence M. Kelley, Director, Federal Bureau of investigation, to John D. deButts, chairman of the board, AT&T, regarding blue box interception of FBI telephone calls. "I am advised that information just developed and confirmed discloses a condition which permits any knowledgeable person using a blue box to intercept and monitor telephone conversations to and from the San Francisco FBI office, and other subscribers in that area. This is a most alarming situation and I request the full cooperation of your organization and its resources to assess the possibility for similar conditions elsewhere and to take immediate corrective action wherever they exist. It is requested that for purposes of this effort liaison with the FBI laboratory, Washington, DC, be established in order that I may be Advised of pertinent results."

Keywords

blue box; FBI; Clarence M. Kelley; John D. deButts; autoverify; verification; John Draper

Source

Anonymous

Abstract

Letter in response to LAT article 1971-10-31, "For Whom Ma Bell Tolls Not" Author corrects Joe Engressia's college - University of South Florida, not South Florida College (both in Tampa).

Keywords

letter to the editor; University of South Florida; Tampa, FL

Source

ProQuest

Abstract

Letter written by 19-year-old Oklahoma College student relating his unfortunate experience being caught for electronic toll fraud.

Keywords

black box; telephone fraud; blue box; FBI; Letter from Oklahoma college student

Notes / See Also

Probably originally attached to db823; date taken from that document. I sheet of paper, both sides.

Abstract

Letter in response to LAT article 1971-10-31, "For Whom Ma Bell Tolls Not." Author describes his experience with phreaking in college

Keywords

letter to the editor; blue box

Source

ProQuest

Abstract

Letter from AT&T's law firm that provided assistance to the prosecution in Draper's third bust summarizing their role in the prosecution.

Keywords

John Draper; Draper Third Bust

Source

Anonymous

Abstract

Letter to editor regarding article on blue, black, and red boxes. "Do you ... think that it is possible to 'rip off' the phone company? Come on, you can't be serious."

Keywords

Notes / See Also

Letter to the editor that refers back to an article printed on 11 October 1972.

Abstract

Letter in response to recent article with info on free phone service. Author describes two additional methods for obtaining free service. Both methods involve wiring directly into the phone lines.

Keywords

Fifth Estate; Dennis Mollura

Notes / See Also

Actual publication date 8/29 - 9/4/1974.

Abstract

Letter to editor regarding Chicago Tribune article on phone phreak conference (db493)

Keywords

phone phreak conference; Louis B. Egenberger; Chicago Tribune

Abstract

Memorandum from Henry Geller, general counsel, and Bernard Strassburg, chief, common carrier Bureau, Federal Communications Commission regarding a revised letter to the criminal division of the Department of Justice concerning toll fraud. Later it was subsequently adopted by the commission in the June 9, 1965 commission meeting; see db481.

Keywords

Federal Communications Commission; FCC; blue box; black box; Henry Geller; Bernard Strassburg

Notes / See Also

See also: db481

Source

National Archives (FCC Records)

Abstract

Letter to the editor in response to original article on how blue boxes work. Includes actual blue box frequencies.

Keywords

73 Magazine; blue boxes

Notes / See Also

See also: db319 Phone Phreaks vs. Ma Bell

Source

Alan Rubinstein

Abstract

A letter to the editor from a reader who is cancelling his subscription in disgust at the recent articles explaining how to defraud the telephone company and eat free at the supermarket.

Keywords

toll fraud

Abstract

A letter to the editor from a reader upset by the paper's recent articles telling how to defraud the phone company and how to get free restaurant food.

Keywords

toll fraud

Abstract

Charles D. Geilker, Assoc. Prof. of Physics at William Jewell College in Liberty, MO, writes in to describe the letter he received from PT&T because he was a subscriber to Teletronics Magazine.

Keywords

Teletronics Magazine; Radio-Electronics Magazine; Pacific Telephone and Telgraph Company (PT&T)

Source

An anonymous phone phreak

Abstract

Letter regarding AT&T discussions about Toll Fraud Control.

Keywords

Toll Fraud Control; Garity (Mr.)

Abstract

Labeled as the Management News Letter of Mountain States Telephone, lists all the various sorts of crimes that the security department fights. This includes a vague description of manipulation of coin telephones which may refer to some sort of phone phreak activity.

Keywords

toll fraud; Mountain States Telephone

Abstract

Letter from a regional VP to the home office, explaining how the Kansas section of Southwestern Bell uses PR as part of their Toll Fraud Detection Program. Has 3 attachments: 1. A one minute video/audio taped message from VP and GM (transcript attached) 2. A print ad - How to Make a $500 Phone Call 3. A print ad - The Six Month Phone Call

Keywords

Roy L. Moskop, Asst. VP, Southwestern Bell (SBTCo); William P. Mullane, Jr.; Dennis Mollura

Abstract

A reader who signs himself "The Buddha" writes to complain that a recent article contained incorrect frequencies in its instructions for building a blue box, and did not contain instructions about how to use it. The writer points to the Esquire article and the 1960 Bell Systems Technical Journal article for further information. He brags about the operation of his blue box, and claims to have no phone phreak connections. Chuck Fager replies on behalf of the paper, apologizing for the typos and saying that the information was not included because it had already been published in earlier articles.

Keywords

blue box; Esquire article; Bell System Technical Journal; phone phreak

Abstract

Letter regarding a story on toll card fraud; mentions FIDO, a device for defrauding on toll.

Keywords

Toll Card Fraud; FIDO; Don Smith; John Newhall; Earth Times

Notes / See Also

Date estimated from related records. See also: db547

Abstract

Memo from Dennis Mollura to all Bell system news contact personnel transmitting a summary and complete transcript of H. W. William Caming's statement before the House Subcommittee on Courts, Civil Liberties, and the Administration of Justice on February 18, 1975.

Keywords

Dennis Mollura; H. W. William Caming; Greenstar

Notes / See Also

Contains a one page cover letter, a three page summary of the testimony, and an 11 page transcript of the testimony.

Abstract

New York FBI file 100-NY-180103 (seemingly also 100-NY-179649) concerning TAP and YIPL

Keywords

TAP; YIPL; Technological American Party; Youth International Party Line

Notes / See Also

Provides slight additional information relative to db374; it is not clear to Phil why this is a separate file than 100-NY-179649. I initially thought perhaps this was an HQ file but no, it's actually a NY file per the FOIPA cover letter. Weird. See also: db0374

Source

FBI via FOIA

Abstract

Letter to Mr. Coffin discussing credit card fraud and its impact on the Bell system.

Keywords

Credit Card Fraud; John Newhall; Earth Times; Hal Warsham; Paul Newman; Steve McQueen; Dow Chemical

Abstract

FBI file regarding Alan Tritter's political affiliations.

Keywords

Alan Tritter

Notes / See Also

Last entry in the file is from 1962. Cover letter says that some documents were referred to OGAs for review.

Source

FBI via FOIA

Abstract

Letter from Tom Cartwright to H. W. W. Caming regarding prosecution of the distributor and publishers of the Carolina Plain Dealer. Says that on May 20, 1971 the Company consented to the Solicitor taking a "nol. pros" with leave against Charles Alston, the distributor of the CPD. "We did not feel it appropriate to proceed with the prosecution of Alston without also prosecuting the other three" (who had fled the state).

Keywords

Carolina Plain Dealer; H. W. William Caming; Tom Cartwright; Southern Bell Telephone Company; Charles Alston

Abstract

Letter from Tom Cartwright to H. W. W. Caming regarding prosecution of Carolina Plain Dealer. Notes that on Thursday 5/27/1971, the sheriff of Chatham County, NC arrested Shayna Chamitoff, one of the alleged publishers of the CPD and that Southern Bell would be renewing and intensifying its efforts to locate the other two publishers.

Keywords

Carolina Plain Dealer; Tom Cartwright; H. W. William Caming; Shayna Chamitoff; Southern Bell Telephone Company

Abstract

Memo re discussion with reporter from Dun's Review on upcoming article on toll fraud. Focuses on credit card/third number fraud.

Keywords

credit card fraud; Dun's review; Al Butkus (reporter)

Abstract

Set of three documents related to FCC meeting June 9, 1965: agenda for general matters (68533), mutations re general agenda (68661), and minutes of the Federal Communications Commission (68679). Item number five on the agenda relates to the letter to the Department of Justice concerning toll fraud; see db481 and db482.

Keywords

Federal Communications Commission; FCC; blue box; black box

Source

National Archives (FCC Records)

Abstract

Memo from Dennis Mollura to Mr. Freeman regarding Mollura's report on the Bell of Pennsylvania press conference announcing the arrest of four people for blue box fraud.

Keywords

Kenneth Spacil (arrested); Robert Helms (arrested); Francis Mitchell (long lines employee, arrested); Helen Williams (Mrs., toll operator, arrested); Dennis Mollura

Abstract

Overview article on how blue boxes work, featuring interview with Dennis Mollura.

Keywords

73 Magazine; blue box; Dennis Mollura

Notes / See Also

See also db320 (Letter to the Editor: Phone Phreaks vs. Ma Bell Part II) written in response to this article, which includes blue box frequencies. See also: db320

Source

Alan Rubinstein

Abstract

Open letter to individuals considering toll fraud by 19-year-old phone phreak. Tells his story and warns others not to engage in toll fraud including blue or black box fraud.

Keywords

phone phreaks; blue box; Southwestern Bell (SBTCo); Ron Crainshaw (mgr SBTCo); black box; FBI