Question: How can someone get a caller ID that says "US Govt. Post Office" through Hawaiian Telcom? Someone on the Big Island is making calls using that caller ID. When I did an online search, the number 964-5216 came up with a lot of complaints that people calling under the "US Govt. Post Office" caller ID want to talk about computers. Isn’t that illegal? Who do you report this to?

Answer: As you quickly figured out, the U.S. Postal Service has nothing to do with the calls, which are being made by "caller ID spoofing."

That’s when someone deliberately falsifies the number and/or name that appears on the caller ID box.

"Caller ID spoofing is not illegal, but spoofing for fraud or otherwise causing harm is a Federal Communications Commission violation and a nationwide issue that affects all service providers," said Ann Nishida Fry, spokeswoman for Hawaiian Telcom.

She said Hawaiian Telcom’s Corporate Security Department has received "a number of calls" regarding these "post office" calls over the past two weeks.

Caller ID spoofing "can be done by using an online account like a calling card or a website that allows users to make calls," she said. "Scammers often spoof numbers and purport to represent banks, utility companies and, as in this situation, the U.S. Post Office."

We also contacted the Postal Service, which passed your complaint on to its Postal Inspection Service.

Postal officials "are monitoring this scheme closely," said spokesman Duke Gonzales. "We are concerned that someone has manipulated caller identification technology to mislead people into believing that the caller is affiliated with a post office."

Apparently, not only is the caller ID bogus, but the location is as well. 

"It appears that the calls are actually originating from outside the U.S.," Gonzales said.

The Postal Service advises "anyone receiving such a misleading call to hang up without providing information and to contact their phone carrier to request that the originating number be blocked," he said.

Gonzales said the Postal Service rarely contacts individual customers by phone, and, when it does, it is only to discuss an issue regarding the mail.

He also pointed out that federal law prohibits anyone from impersonating a postal employee to obtain or demand anything of value. 

Hawaiian Telcom has been advised that the Postal Inspection Service is handling complaints at 877-876-2455. Consumers can also file a complaint with the FCC by calling 888-225-5322 or online at www.fcc.gov/complaints.

Hawaiian Telcom customers also may contact its Nuisance Call Bureau at 643-7111 for more guidance and options, Nishida Fry said.

"In some cases, calls can be traced, but there are limitations to this option, which may also require cooperation from other providers," she said.

Caller ID Service

Hawaiian Telcom’s Caller ID service works with its customer data base.

"When a call is made to a customer who has Caller ID service, the calling switch pairs its number with the name on the customer’s account in our database and passes that information on to the party being called," Nishida Fry explained. 

"Caller ID service offers many advantages but is not foolproof," she said. "Consumers should be vigilant about safeguarding their personal information and not give it out to anyone who calls them."

Mahalo

To Ofa. In August our 94-year-old daddy locked himself out of his house while waiting for mom to come home from day care. He decided to walk a very dangerous eight blocks with no sidewalks to his daughter’s home. His angel Ofa found him on Judd Street and offered him a ride, saving him from certain injury or a possible worse outcome. We can’t thank you enough for your concern and kind act. May you be blessed many times over! — The Ho Family

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