Is there a way to shut down a satellite phone?

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Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 1:37 am

Hi,

My lad's using a satellite phone for making calls and email. I've located the satellite phone company and I'm wondering if anyone has had any luck sending in a complaint and getting the number shut down.

Any suggestions welcome!!

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 1:47 am

I don't know but the best thing to do is keep him on it as long as possible. Satellite phones aren't cheap to use.

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 1:52 am

Whoaaa .. now thats a good one.

Have you tried the 'search' feature of the forums??

I would think that it would be *nearly* impossible to shut down a persons satellite handset/ number on the merit that the user is involved in something fraudulent like 419. I mean, it makes for good movies of governments chasing the bad guy to the end of the earth 'cause he's a terrorist with stolen secrets to the nuclear bunker & he's negotiating via a sat link!

But seriously - just to try and address a Sat telephone provider with all sorts of ammunition about credit card frauds, passing bad checks, and demanding Western Union payments while out trekking in the Sahara would be *very* difficult.

Hiding Osama in a cave and ordering take away via satphone = maybe.
But shutting down a Sat # via the provider cause Mugu has a Sat phone ??

Anyone with Telco experience have any comments??

Perhaps posting the original scam email and then posting the sat number may be able to be woven into a parallel bait by having one of your Lads try to call your first Lad's super expensive number?? This would be expensive for both parties I am sure. I would suggest checking with a Mod about this first in order to avoid breaking any board policies

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 2:11 am

Most telecom companies will refuse to act unless there is a court order or subpoena in place. Both are very difficult to obtain. They will shut him down if he misses 2 payments or more.

The best way is to run up his phone bill and hopefully he can no longer afford to opperate one. As sir scam alot said, satellite phone air time isn't cheap.

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 2:15 am

I work for a large cell company here in the US. I don't know how sat phones work but it is pretty much impossible to shut someone's phone down unless by court order. In our company, if we want to shut someone's phone off for any other reason than them not paying their bill, it is a major ordeal and it has to be for reasons that affect our company, not the general public.

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 2:49 am

Agreed,

Im in telecom as well. Most Telecom companies will not get involved without the authorities providing legal documents so that the telco is protected. Probably the best thing is to inconveniance this guy. Sat phones are expensive to operate. You need to run up his talk minutes.

What country is hosting his telephone number?

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 4:10 am

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

Larry, I'll get back to you on that - i have to do a little digging again to get it.

If anyone wants, I can give them the lad's email and have it call you. Here's how you get free call forwarding in the US:

http://www.inumbr.com/

Have fun chatting!!

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