TAP No. 28 - Reading Computer Bills, Loop Suffixes

We've been getting swamped with requests for the new = - Credit Card Code. Apparently the phone company can't get = it together to impliment their new computerized credit card system in all areas at once. There is a report that the new credit card code is baséd on the 4th digit and is as follows: 1-E 2-M 8-U 4-3 5-Q 6-A 7-W 8-Z 9-H 0-R Please send us your experiences with this code.so we can determine if it works and where. oo You may have noticed that your mailing label is being produced by an infallible space age giant electronic compu- ter brain. If you are like 12% of our subscribers, you will never have any problem witn your subscription. However, the computer is very literal-minded. When writing to TAP to change your address or renew you must, must, MUST include your mailing label or a xerox of it. Many readers could be interested in a device to clip-onto pay phone wires like a testset, but-could actually simulate @ pay phone, beeps and all. Such a device would also have the sante electrical responses as a real pay phone to ring- ing, coan collecting and returning, although no coins would be necessary for its operation. Readers who would be into working on this are urged to report their results for publi- cation. Refer to this as the "Portable Pay Phone". Finally, a note about the Telident phone call tracer. Our clipping last issue was from Popular Mechanics who now claims that Telident has moved or gone out of business and left no forwarding address. Top phreaks have felt the unit could not work and must be a hoax. PM claims Telident did a demo at the Waldorf Astoria in New York and it seems real. Could be publicity of this myth might frighten certain potential bomb callers, and that the press conference at the ‘Waldorf was set up? Or maybe it does work and the Govt. or others are trying to keep it secret! The following is a loop suffix list. These may or may not be free calls, and’ some may have changed recently. ‘The suffix is added to the first 3 digits of your phone no. (the prefix) and when two people call the two numbers, they are connected to each other, Sometimes one number must be dialed before the other for connection to take place. For example, one dials 215-265-0094 and the other dials 215- 265-0095, For people in Philadelphia the 215 would of course be unnecessary. AREA CODE STATE LOOP ENDINGS 201 NJ 9929/8930 213 Ca. 1118/1119 215 Pa. 0094/0095 303 Co, 0009/0068 312 . 9930/9931 313 Mi. 9996/9997 412 Pa. 0092/0093 415 Ca. 0044/0045 416 Ontario 1186/1187 503 Or, 1000/1001 914 N.Y. 9905/9900 9934/9935 918 Ok, 9932/9933 MARCH 1975 YOU CAN HELP TAP ‘Ifyou can contribute any information that you think other readers would be interested in, please do 80. TAP readers: are the main source of our information. You can belp by meeting employees of phone and power companies, slarm places, etc,, and asking them about questions other people raise in the newaletter. Be sure to get details and maintain contact in case you have additional questions. Most empl- ‘oyees of those companies would be glad to screw their boss ‘and they'd probably be interested in TAP, too. We hope that a lot of you will gather information so we know what the scene is around the country and Canada, We also need info on the following: Automatic Blue Boxes-With info about where they're nec- essary. Locks, getting stuff, etc. I> New code books, picking Medeco, Sargent Keso, r, etc. * Bee Setting up your own Station, Schematics, legal stuff, jammers, etc, ‘Burglar Alarms-Holmes and other central station alarms, ‘bypassing, electronic keys and picking, etc. Also, Magnets, Oversees Phresking, and Chemistry. Dear TAP, Enclosed is a drawing of my ripoff newspaper discovery. I get along, thin, strong wire like the type used on newspaper stacks, Stick equal lengths simultaneously down the two coin slots, and the door should pop open. Pull the handle, take all the papers you need. It usually takes 15 seconds. IT'S SOMETHING LIKE THIS, IT! USUALLY PAINTED BLUE, CURVED PULL HANDLE, ‘WIRE & PLASTIC SCREEN WINDOW, © Youth Hot Line Reports, Inc. 1974 Movement groupe may reprint with TAP's address, ‘ard please send us a copy of reprinted work. HOW TO READ COMPUTER BILLS The standard IBM keypunch code is used on computer bills sent you by the Phone Co., Blue Cross, Con bills sent you by the Phone Co, Blue Cross and everyone else who does alot of computer billing. Knowledge of the code can prove very interesting. Here's how it works: ‘The card contains information printed on it, and you can read this information, But the computer reads this info by means of little rectangular holes punched in various rows and columns. The number "4" is represented by a hole in the fourth row, while the letter "B" is ‘two holes, one in row A and one in row 2. A space is when no holes are punched. and 8, in consecutive columns. He examines the rows and labels them with a pencil. Then he looks for the $23. 68 and finds it near the middle of the card. By covering up the 2 and cutting a new hole in the "0" row, he has changed his _ bill from $23, 68 to $3.68, a savings-of $20.00, He covered the 2 using a tiny piece of scotch tape that overlap the hole . by only 1/8" ali around, except where it would cover another hole. He pressed it down firmly and then cut the excess off with a razor blade. To cut the hole, he drew Hines witha ruler from other "0" holes and from the "2" he just covered up. These nes intersected in a small rectangle the size of the other holes, which he cut out with a razor blade. He ABCDEFGHIJKLMNUOPGRSTUVUXYZ O12S456789 75S. RM C4_2C>2 5916 |: vagennny ‘ VUUPo et eedieas 3999M99999999N39929920999999999338293732939 0 Cree) COSCO) COCCCir! COOP When you get a bill like this, the writing on it will not directly above the letters and numbers in this coded form. This is to keep the computer information secret. However, on a Standard keypunch machine, which can be found at most college computer departments and in most large of- fice buildings, computer cards can be punched out with the numbers and letters they represent right above each col- umn. Plus, all the rows and columns are marked. Column 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30 contain the amount you owe them ona N.Y. Telephone computer bill. It's unbelievable what some people woud do out of spite towards the phone company. I know of one person who regularly crumples his computer card before sending it back to the phone company with pay- ment. And talk about people who actually manipulate the holes so as to pay less money than they actually owe! Yes, it's a sad fact but many of these wonderful corporations have left themselves wide open to ripoff artists. Let's see how one of these commie punks, Chris "Crash" Creech is attempting to do this. "Crash" doesn't have access to a keypunch machine, so he can't duplicate the phone bill and see instantly where the $23, 68 is punched out, but he-knows another way. He as- sumes that there is at least one hole in each row of the card. and he knows that four of these holes will be 2, 3, 6. BeSippelereucooes car ooocesess sa ecHGZ1E 6308 + oo FORTRAN STATEMENT an VAUUOEU HUM OUa Tsar age CEE) CEEEEESS! COSELES! COSOCOOLEL! CCOSECOeSeerecesreeel (1 CEttt) CESeSeeececcecrerel 20922990009907999790N9329399990329 PYYTy | CEETEET TITY NTT IT TTT | TTT TET UsccMeMcccceNecccens PEPEREELL EREESES) CORRELL) LEPERSTEEES) CREE) LEEREEEEEEEEIE? U1 TE | ‘THERE ARE 12 ROWS ON THE CARD, 0-9 and A and B, PEELE ESELELL! ‘THERE ARE 80 COLUMNS, COUNTING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, knew that if the hole wasn't placed and cut exac in the correct spot, the computer card reader would detect an error. His tiny piece of tape was pressed on firmly and he ‘new this would not be spotted. But, on the off chance’ that © it would be, he covered himself by sending a check for the original amount, hoping to get the $20. 00 in the form of credit on his next bill. In fact, be sometime will send more, like $25.00, so that the scheme might not be looked at like ale viveedheowccouosoananennannoon ahha eee ee we , SSQUSSSSSSNSSHSSSSSSS55555555S3 595555555 5155555555 at CAPE KEE EE SES TESA ITIITT aussie Q9ssgs9agggsssssascgagsoasssassaegD PEEP EPEE EMEC On Derr tren cera t HERE IS THE 2,3, 6,8, IN CONSECUTIVE COLUMNS, BILLS DON'T HAVE THE ROWS OR COLUMNS VISIBLE OR NUMBERED BUT THEY ARE STILL IN ‘THE SAME PLACES, an overpayment by mistake, but rather as an installment or even as a desire of credi: by him. The person who opens his letter notes a check for $23. 68, and a bill for $23. 68, but if the computer indicated a credit of $20.00, a nice round number, the person may be used t> seeing people accidentally send in too much money by slipping a digit on their check, and investigate further. If the person saw a credit of $21.32, however, it wouldn't appear suspicious. Some card readers are mechanical, using little fingers feel the holes in the cards, However, more are now using light beams, which would not be stopped by the scotch tape unless it was colored. Also, card readers are precision machines that can be jammed by a small piece of scotch tape should it happen to come loose. Even a slight bend in the card, when straightened out, can still cause the card to jam, and when it does, someone is going to have to remove the card and possibly retype it. Other variations on this theme are possible. When the amount on the bill is a credit due Crash, the last digit of the amount has a hole punched in the A row in addition to tae number hole that is punched. One might assume that All information is free if you can't afford it. Let us know. & c = z = & £ & ate 9 Super Saver Soa imme it) = 24~ Fraud Detectors, Index, . {i-hocrgi try stance ea toe 1974 Code ‘U+Intereationa) Calls & Box Plans 25-New Red Box, Free Gas Hemera! Gils TUT Perore 26> New Blue Box Ne-Red Gor Fimae” = 27-Free Electricity nacr SHEETU-25¢ Lew Credit Card Fact Sheat ARET-BELL BUTTORI- 596 1078.09 “UTA Code and Wow to go it Safely) Steal This Duok-$2.23 2.Rocetving Lony AGen, Toi. verait nee Calle Free Honecaly-$2.2° Tague 11) QESTRUCTON: ABSISYANCE-Pree, el 36 feed ust ada a yon want tack in & 2600 Miatle Pe: ne 196 _ Smmpnd, exi-etiveseed emeiees, Dust Tene Osctlistor with Interrupter-196 List of Destructory Ansistance Toptes- Pree To receive Sub, vis firet ‘$2 Subscription apprea. 10 envelope, até $1.80 Tap, woo do, 182 ¥, 42 ET..MsY. oY. 10038 Nailing aéGrecs only, check or woney order anly, SO CAS Bills Of $210,117 Written Off By Phone Firm ‘Some $210,117 In unpaid cus _bills. BU Probiem Aproblem C. & P, faces Chesapeake and Polamae Tele- th unpaid bills is that “after phone Company during the ‘has been disconnected, first six months of this year. person's consclencé or ©. & P. usually gives custo, mera 120 days after a “final “Soy."hir'Gehiger sade” will” to pay after that, it “There's nothing of value we either searches for ” the custo» ean_repassess,” although the toe, oH te Mig emall mG det ‘collec: amount, writes i off os uncol- tion of bigger bills, he added. He sald C. & P is not that disturbed“about the write-offs, “If this were some dramatic increase over last year. we'd have to ralse phone rates or crack fown on credit colleetian the skx months of 1873, poli he said, but that’s ‘not the case now. punching this particular hole would result in a “reversal of the charges", in Phone Co. language. This is probably in addition to other codes for credit on the bill, and more information on this and related subjects would be welcome from readers. It makes fascinating reading, doesn't it? Crash knows some companies that this works at, arid some where it doesn't. His warped mind tells him that any com- pany big enough to have computer billing is worth rippi off, and so he continues his habit to this day, Beware SOME INTERESTING IDEAS FOR PAY PHONE BOXERS By now, most phreaks are aware that boxing must be done with care to avoid getting caught. Most blue box ar- rests involve someone using a box on a home phone line for many calls. Rarely are busts made at pay phones, and So booths are becoming very popular. And since you can't bust someone for carring a tape recorder, many boxers tape the tones and then go tb the phone booth and make the call. If the tape is erased after completing the connection, it's hard to prove a box was used. Sometimes, however, the phreak wants or needs his or her box right there at the phone booth. One phreak has built a box into the case of a TI SR-10 calculator. We'd really like to see someone build a blue box into a calculator case and still have the calculator work! One possible way to switch between blue box and calculator operation would be a multipole relay for the diode matrix and power swit- ching. A relay that would consume little current could be built using FETs as switches, or using a prepackaged IC analog switch. In the phone booth, of course, there is that basic prob- lem of holding the box or cassette up to the phone mouth- Piece while looking out for people who might see. Most phreaks with cassette recorders use an extension speaker with a 3 foot cord. Some suggest running the cord inside the phreaks jacket and down the sleeve, emerging in the left hand or clipped to the inside sleeve. This hand also holds the phone mouthpiece and outside observers do not see the speaker. The recorder or box can be worn ona belt, also inside a jacket. Perhaps the ultimate idea in avoiding detection is to use a radio link from a car or home to the pay phone. A simple FM transmitter can transmit the tones to a small FM radio, which is entirely unsuspicious-looking and legal. A two-way radio would be more suitable for inform- ing the person at the home base that the tones should then be sent. A continuous loop cassete or cartridge would eliminate the need for a partner and two-way radios. I'd like to comment on a few statements being moronically repeated again and again by Pa Bell, via his public relation and security force regarding FAIRNESS. These are my own ideas mixed with those of some of the readers. "We reluctantly allow billing to a third number from a Pay phone, so as to allow the pay phone customer maximum service, although fraud losses are quite high". They really ate their foot this time. Pa Bell claims he's just so nice to risk billing to a third number from a pay phone, and then, without any publicity, they remove the bells from payphones. ‘What about people who have to get a call back? What if they can't afford a phone, or they're moving, and they'd like to recive a call on a PUBLIC PHONE? Tough! The phone company would have us believe it's practically fraud to call someone back when their dime runs out, even though it costs us money to call them back] Telco is so greedy for those few extra pennies. "We feel people who spend a long time on message unit calis should pay extra for each minute. This way people pay their fair share." This one's a gem. So they fee. that people shouldn't have to subsidize the calls of others, buh? Do they publicize the fact that their one million employees get a discount on their phone bill each month? In fact, on their family's phone bill? “Phone phreaks and illegal extension owners are picking the public pocket", Well, maybe compared to the grand larceny on the public by AT&T. Are they for real? How does putting in your own-extension make other people pay, if, as they always claim, they don't like to make other people pay for the habits of some? AT&T simply wants to monopolize the manufacture, sale (or rental) and installa- tion of every phone in the U.S., except for about a petty 15% so they can claim their not a monopoly! They have a testing program on now that is using up so much time and money just to detect illegal extension phones, They claim they have to protect the network. 99€ of all store-bought phones are in no need for"protection", as our mob-oriented phone company claims. And the other 1% don't work when the owner installs it, so they remove it immediately. One reader says that all Western Electric phones made after 12-74 bave a capacitor in the network box that does one thing; it allows detection even if the bell is disconnected. ‘That's our money being spent to catch us trying to shop around in a so-called competitive economy. As for phreaks ripping off the public, this is not too evident to us at TAP, who know that most phreaks enjoy exploring the system electronically, harmlessly, making a few calls that they would not ordinarily make, AT&T is afraid that word will spread and half the population will simply stop paying altogether and start phreaking. Nota bad idea, but that is far from happening at this time. But as I said before, we provide AT&T with the excuse that we're partly at fault for rising rates, which is simply a lie to cover up their ever-increasing greed for profit. ‘Aman who had bumped bis head and gone into # coma awoke clearheaded and refreshed in 1993. The first thing he id was to phone his broker who in- formed him that his AT & T stock was ‘ow worth $ million, his GM stock $10 sillion, and his Xerox stock $15 million “Golly”, the man exclaimed excitedly, “f'm worth rhillions!” Then the telephone operator interrupted him. “Your three minutes are up, sir. Deposit $1 million please.” Dear TAP, In Issue 27 a reader said that the Z channel on Theta cable TV can be obtained free, but Theta is making this impos- sible by installing small white filter boxes on top of the telephone poles feeding houses with cable TV. This filter could be bypassed, but a better way is to open the white box and remove the insides, replacing it with a Straight Piece of wire. This then looks the same as before. Don't do this when police are cruising by; they wouldn't think yor were sleepwalking and ended up on the telephone pole. -CALIFORNIA- Dear TAP, In the 213 Area (excluding Gen. Tel.) we have an interest- ing method of making free calls. This system works after 6 on weekdays and after 5 on weekends. This is when tel- ephone repair service is at a different office and there's a call-diverting device on 611. When repair service is called you get a dial tone,. which is then broken by dial pulsing & you get connected to another office, If you disconnect as Soon as you hear the dial pulsing and call back, an uninter- rupted dial tone is heard which can be tough-toned off of. Long distance people can still do this by calling the operator auxilliary number to repair service(after eight pacific time) and touch-toning the first digit when the dial tone is heard. The dial pulsing will occur, and then they can finish dialing the rest of the numbers(only in the 213 area). . -CALIFORNIA- - Note: By making the first impulse to the digit receiver a tone, the receiver then ignores any dial pulses. If a dial pulse’ is received first, however, all touch tones will be ignored. Two aux. no.s are 769-4010 and 346-0009 (213). TAP has courses on Basic Electricity that are easily understood, no matter how little knowledge of Electronics you already have. You learn by building useful projects and experiments such as those in TAP. In fact, you should be able to build any project in TAP after 6 courses, which are 50¢ each (free if youcan't afford it). 4 courses are avail- able now, A~Basic Electricity, B-Alternating Current, C-Basic Phones, and D-Amplifiers, with more coming soon. We urae you to send for them if you want a quick education in electronics. If you want to meet other phreaks in your area, and are willing to be met, write to Meat. We'll accumulate a list of names and match you up with someone nearby as soon as possible, and notify you both. Published for informational purposes only by Youth Hot Line Reports, Inc. TAP, ROOM 504, 152 W. 42 ST., NY.,NY. 10036 BULK RATE U. S. POSTAGE PAID Permit Ne. 209 Groat Neck, HY.