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8lrr8
Wonder Wit
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Post  Posted: July 02, 2009 - 09:00 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top
Post subject: cellphone sms eavesdropping: fact or fiction?

i was told there's a black market service here where all u have to do is give the "service provider" the cell # (and not the physical sim card) of the person u want to spy on, and they can make it so all sms' and call logs will be forwarded to your cellphone. i'm not sure if they can let u eavesdrop on phone calls that are made from the phone, but the sms fwding feature is for sure.

this would for example be extremely useful to confirm one's suspicions of a cheating partner.


so is this a myth or reality? i have my doubts but w/ this being china, i'm not quite so sure...
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Andreas
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Post  Posted: July 02, 2009 - 09:25 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top

I am not sure about having them forwarded to your cell phone, but you can definitely 'buy' the transcripts if you know the right peeps at your provider. It's highly illegal of course, so it will cost you.

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8lrr8
Wonder Wit
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Post  Posted: July 02, 2009 - 09:40 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top

if the story was they could do it upon physically receiving the sim card, i'd believe it. but if a cell # is all they have to work w/, it seems like it'd require some deep connections w/ very specific people working at china mobile et al...
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Andreas
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Post  Posted: July 02, 2009 - 09:42 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top

For money everything is possible in this country. And yep, only the number is enough.

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Marakanis
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Post  Posted: July 02, 2009 - 11:23 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top

8lrr8 wrote:
if the story was they could do it upon physically receiving the sim card, i'd believe it. but if a cell # is all they have to work w/, it seems like it'd require some deep connections w/ very specific people working at china mobile et al...


It depends on how they store the information. I think AT&T is pretty strict about not logging each individual text and storing the text. While those logs are stored SOMEWHERE, not just any employee can access those files and they're pretty strictly watched over (accessing them would set off some alarm bells somewhere). However, most employees can check your bill and from that you can see who texts who and how often and exactly when.

Now in China, who knows how they store SMS information and where. If any employee can open up the files and look at it, it's obviously not so secure so it wouldn't be difficult to get a look, and given the lax security protocols I've seen at some companies, it's not hard to imagine that any employee might take a gander at your SMS messages.
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8lrr8
Wonder Wit
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Post  Posted: July 02, 2009 - 11:40 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top

Marakanis wrote:
If any employee can open up the files and look at it, it's obviously not so secure so it wouldn't be difficult to get a look, and given the lax security protocols I've seen at some companies, it's not hard to imagine that any employee might take a gander at your SMS messages.
the question wasnt about if a cellphone employee can pull up your sms's. it was about if there exists a service the general public can purchase from a "black market" individual who can allow u read another person's sms's in real-time.
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leidelaohuOffline
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Post  Posted: July 02, 2009 - 11:55 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top

8lrr8 wrote:
the question wasnt about if a cellphone employee can pull up your sms's. it was about if there exists a service the general public can purchase from a "black market" individual who can allow u read another person's sms's in real-time.

Why the dickbrain above is talking about AT&T I have no idea. China Mobile does have all the sms messages stored and if you have the phone's owner's ID card or a copy therof you can get those records. So people who cheat on their husbands / wives are careful about their sms if they are smart.

About the "service" you speak of, I wouldn't bet that it can't be done.
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Post  Posted: July 03, 2009 - 12:01 AM  Reply with quote  Back to top

If you lose your phone, you can get your old number back by giving China Mobile the last ten numbers you either called or sms'd. If they have that information then I strongly suspect that it would be possible to 'eavesdrop' on sms messages and calls.

No doubt highly illegal in the West, but in China money talks and Marakanus walks.

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KarmaComaOffline
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Post  Posted: July 03, 2009 - 12:05 AM  Reply with quote  Back to top

Marakanis wrote:
8lrr8 wrote:
if the story was they could do it upon physically receiving the sim card, i'd believe it. but if a cell # is all they have to work w/, it seems like it'd require some deep connections w/ very specific people working at china mobile et al...


It depends on how they store the information. I think AT&T is pretty strict about not logging each individual text and storing the text. While those logs are stored SOMEWHERE, not just any employee can access those files and they're pretty strictly watched over (accessing them would set off some alarm bells somewhere). However, most employees can check your bill and from that you can see who texts who and how often and exactly when.

Now in China, who knows how they store SMS information and where. If any employee can open up the files and look at it, it's obviously not so secure so it wouldn't be difficult to get a look, and given the lax security protocols I've seen at some companies, it's not hard to imagine that any employee might take a gander at your SMS messages.


Yet more proof that you have no idea what you're talking about but it doesn't stop you from pulling sh#t out of your ass. Seriously man, give it a rest.
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8lrr8
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Post  Posted: July 03, 2009 - 12:16 AM  Reply with quote  Back to top

leidelaohu wrote:
China Mobile does have all the sms messages stored and if you have the phone's owner's ID card or a copy therof you can get those records.
fair enough, but can a spouse get those records (w/o the other person's ID card)?

also, do u know if china mobile stores phone convos? i remember US cellphone companies record the previous month's convos in case the individual disputes making those calls. what about here in china?
leidelaohu wrote:
About the "service" you speak of, I wouldn't bet that it can't be done.
i agree it can be done. whether such a service is readily available (a la black market money changers) is another question.
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Andreas
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Post  Posted: July 03, 2009 - 12:34 AM  Reply with quote  Back to top

Again, you only need the number. And readily available is only a matter of money.

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Mr TotomoloOffline
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Post  Posted: July 03, 2009 - 12:48 AM  Reply with quote  Back to top

8lrr8

I dont know about cellphones, but I can make a parabole: there is one company in Sichuan which sells over the internet FULL listings of ALL the chinese customs informations about import and export movements: shipper name and adress, consignee name and adress, commoditiies and custom tariff, etc...
You can buy listings in excel forms , by class of product, by country of destination or provenance etc...

And I know it is true, because they have shown me my own records, and i fell on my ass, litteraly

Like Andreas said, with money , everything is possible
Besides, dont forget that all phone have also the GPS function; if the emergency services (or a cheated spouse) can know the location of a phone at the exact meter, they surely can access the data.

Again another example a bit far from phones: the chinese police caught recently 2 guys who bought over the internet some devices to block the remote controls to perform the locking of cars (at the time the owner was thinking he had locked the car, the device had actually prevented the alarm system to lock the car, and they could steAL it easily)
if you can buy this kind of highly sophisticated device over the internet in china, you surely can buy spying devices too

If you have something to hide, dont call, dont write, dont read
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leidelaohuOffline
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Post  Posted: July 03, 2009 - 12:52 AM  Reply with quote  Back to top

8lrr8 wrote:
[fair enough, but can a spouse get those records (w/o the other person's ID card)?

8lrr8, have you been a bad boy ? Remember those spy movies with the tiny little camera ? Now think ... you are living with someone. You've got a cell phone. Unless he or she stores their ID card up their ass, there's going to be an opportunity to take a photo. A copy is acceptable to China Mobile.

Intelligent cheaters have more than one phone.
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sinned69Offline
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Post  Posted: July 03, 2009 - 01:21 AM  Reply with quote  Back to top

Quote:
i was told there's a black market service here where all u have to do is give the "service provider" the cell # (and not the physical sim card) of the person u want to spy on, and they can make it so all sms' and call logs will be forwarded to your cellphone. i'm not sure if they can let u eavesdrop on phone calls that are made from the phone, but the sms fwding feature is for sure.

this would for example be extremely useful to confirm one's suspicions of a cheating partner.


so is this a myth or reality? i have my doubts but w/ this being china, i'm not quite so sure...


yes, it can be done, and easily.
both China Mobile and China Unicom (both China Telecom) keep sms and number logs on record, they can be retrieved for a fee and with the right connections, or simply using many private investigators who will/can get that info...
one only need to provide the mobile/phone number and the lists are provided on hardcopy, not sent via sms...

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sinned69Offline
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Post  Posted: July 03, 2009 - 01:23 AM  Reply with quote  Back to top

^no ID card is needed, just cell#, money &/or connections...
i know and experienced this first hand...
Wink

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Marakanis
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Post  Posted: July 03, 2009 - 01:26 AM  Reply with quote  Back to top

Such angry people today.

My point was, if you want to look at someone's text messages other than on their phone, you need access to the logs. I mentioned AT&T because I know that not just any employee can read the actual texts, but almost any employee can read the log of when texts were sent and to who.

In order to get a list of text messages on the "black market" you need people who are able to access the information. That (typically) means an employee. For AT&T to get the text of the messages themselves, not bloody likely.

Here in China, I have no idea. BUT, I imagine their security is more lax and that many people have access to the text logs, thus a higher chance of a black market where you can get someone's text messages.

Anyways, if you want to be safe, get a prepaid phone, and burn the phone when you're done.

In related news, there is software you can put on phones to discreetly auto-forward incoming and outgoing SMS' to another phone or e-mail.
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Andreas
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Post  Posted: July 03, 2009 - 01:30 AM  Reply with quote  Back to top

As sinned69 confirmed my story, it's easy as anyhting. How do you think companies (mine included) keep track of employees they suspect of stealing, cheating, or passing confidential information, or running their own business in company time?

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Andreas
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Post  Posted: July 03, 2009 - 01:32 AM  Reply with quote  Back to top

Marakanis wrote:
In order to get a list of text messages on the "black market" you need people who are able to access the information. That (typically) means an employee. For AT&T to get the text of the messages themselves, not bloody likely.


No 'black market' mate, but readily available information for the right price.

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Marakanis
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Post  Posted: July 03, 2009 - 01:53 AM  Reply with quote  Back to top

From where? From who?
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8lrr8
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Post  Posted: July 03, 2009 - 07:15 AM  Reply with quote  Back to top

it seems the chic who told this to me (not my girl, btw) wasnt bullshitting at all. thx everyone for their responses!
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Post  Posted: July 03, 2009 - 08:55 AM  Reply with quote  Back to top

Marakanis wrote:
From where? From who?


From a China Mobile employee, dumbass!

Rolling Eyes

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Marakanis
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Post  Posted: July 03, 2009 - 11:15 AM  Reply with quote  Back to top

ziccawei wrote:
Marakanis wrote:
From where? From who?


From a China Mobile employee, dumbass!

Rolling Eyes


(sigh) I mean SPECIFICALLY. How about a phone number or a website or something. Maybe a shady bar where they hang out to exchange info for cash.
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Andreas
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Post  Posted: July 03, 2009 - 11:17 AM  Reply with quote  Back to top

Marakanis wrote:
ziccawei wrote:
Marakanis wrote:
From where? From who?


From a China Mobile employee, dumbass!

Rolling Eyes


(sigh) I mean SPECIFICALLY. How about a phone number or a website or something. Maybe a shady bar where they hang out to exchange info for cash.


Mate, you watch way too many B-movies. You just ask any PI, or go to any of the bigger China Mobile shops.

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Post  Posted: July 03, 2009 - 11:19 AM  Reply with quote  Back to top

I bet one of those guys that sell mobile phone cards knows someone.

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Post  Posted: July 03, 2009 - 01:24 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top

Get an anonymous pre-paid sim?
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