Systems and methods for remote call redirection detection and treatment
View Patent ↗Systems and methods in which call intelligence, such as may be deployed in communication with signaling systems utilized in controlling calls and telecommunication databases, is used to analyze information about a call in order to make a determination as to the likelihood or risk that call redirecting, such as call forwarding or remote call forwarding, will be invoked with respect to a call are shown. The call intelligence, upon a determination that an unacceptable risk that call redirecting will be invoked, preferably institutes appropriate call treatment or handling procedures, such as to block the call or to allow the call while invoking additional call treatment action.
1. A method comprising:
receiving a request to place a call to a called number;
prior to attempting to connect the call, determining whether call redirecting is likely to be implemented with respect to said call based, at least in part, upon information selected from the group consisting of:
a geographic location associated with said called number being different from a billing address for said called number;
a billing address for said called number being a mail drop; and
a billing name and address for said called number being similar to one or more billing names and addresses for other telephone numbers called from a particular facility.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said analyzing information determines whether call redirecting is likely to be implemented with respect to said call based upon a combination of at least two of the information.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein a determination whether call redirecting is likely to be implemented with respect to said call is different based upon particular combinations of at least two of the information.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing a risk indicator of whether call redirecting is likely to be implemented with respect to said call based upon said analyzing information.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said risk indicator comprises a plurality of risk levels with respect to call forwarding being implemented in association with said call, said plurality of risk levels including at least three risk levels.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
implementing a selected call treatment of a plurality of call treatments as a function of said analyzing information.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said plurality of call treatments includes allowing said call to continue while invoking a call treatment action as a function of said analyzing information.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said call treatment action comprises altering a payment verification point of an account associated with said call.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein said call treatment action comprises altering a credit limit of an account associated with said call.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein said call treatment action comprises connecting at least a portion of said call to a customer service agent.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein said call treatment action comprises requiring a party to said call to contact a customer service agent.
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein said call treatment action comprises recording at least a portion of said call.
13. The method of claim 7 , wherein said call treatment action comprises invoking further analysis with respect to said called number for determining whether call redirecting is being implemented with respect to said called number.
14. The method of claim 7 , wherein said plurality of call treatments further includes preventing said call from continuing and allowing said call to continue without invoking a call treatment action.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein said call redirecting comprises remote call forwarding.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein said call comprises a call placed between a party disposed within a controlled environment facility and a party disposed outside of said controlled environment facility.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein said controlled environment facility comprises a detention facility.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein said call comprises a call placed from said party disposed within said controlled environment facility to said party disposed outside of said controlled environment facility.
19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
placing said call using a controlled environment facility call processing system implementing security protocols with respect to said controlled environment facility.
20. A system comprising:
a database comprising information associated with at least one of a dialed number of a call and a party of said call; and
a call processing system in communication with said database, said call processing system coupled to a call path, wherein said call processing system is operable to obtain at least a portion of said information from said database and determine, prior to attempting to connect the call, whether call redirecting is likely to be implemented with respect to said call, wherein said call redirecting comprises call forwarding.
21. The system of claim 20 , wherein said call forwarding comprises remote call forwarding.
22. The system of claim 20 , wherein said at least a portion of said information is used by said call processing system to determine if said dialed number comprises a local exchange carrier billed telephone number.
23. The system of claim 20 , wherein said at least a portion of said information is used by said call processing system to determine if an implied geographic location for said dialed number is different from a billing address for said dialed number.
24. The system of claim 20 , wherein said at least a portion of said information is used by said call processing system to determine if a billing address for said dialed number comprises a mail drop.
25. The system of claim 20 , wherein said at least a portion of said information is used by said call processing system to determine if a billing name and address for said dialed number is similar to other billing names and addresses for other telephone numbers serviced by said call processing system.
26. The system of claim 20 , wherein said call processing system comprises a prison facility call processing system.
27. A method for detecting undesired calling activity, said method comprising:
identifying an attempt to initiate a call; and
analyzing information associated with said call to determine a risk level of a plurality of risk levels with respect to call forwarding being implemented in association with said call, said plurality of risk levels including at least three risk levels.
28. The method of claim 27 , further comprising:
implementing a selected call treatment of a plurality of call treatments based on a level of said risk of call forwarding being implemented.
29. The method of claim 28 , wherein said plurality of call treatments includes allowing said call to continue while invoking a call treatment action as a function of said analyzing information.
30. The method of claim 29 , wherein said call treatment action comprises altering a payment verification point of an account associated with said call.
31. The method of claim 29 , wherein said call treatment action comprises altering a credit limit of an account associated with said call.
32. The method of claim 29 , wherein said call treatment action comprises connecting at least a portion of said call to a customer service agent.
33. The method of claim 29 , wherein said call treatment action comprises requiring a party to said call to contact a customer service agent.
34. The method of claim 29 , wherein said call treatment action comprises recording at least a portion of said call.
35. The method of claim 29 , wherein said call treatment action comprises invoking further analysis with respect to said called number for determining whether call redirecting is being implemented with respect to said called number.
36. The method of claim 29 , wherein said plurality of call treatments further include preventing said call from continuing and allowing said call to continue without invoking a call treatment action.
37. The method of claim 27 , wherein said analyzing information analyzes information selected from the group consisting of:
an implied geographic location for said called number being different from a billing address for said called number;
said called number being a local exchange carrier billed telephone number;
a billing address for said called number being a mail drop; and
a billing name and address for said called number being similar to one or more billing names and addresses for other telephone numbers called from a particular facility.
38. The method of claim 37 , wherein said analyzing information determines said risk level based upon a combination of at least two of the information.
39. The method of claim 38 , wherein a determination of said risk level is different based upon particular combinations of at least two of the information.
40. The method of claim 27 , wherein said call forwarding comprises remote call forwarding.
41. The method of claim 27 , wherein said call comprises a call placed between a party disposed within a controlled environment facility and a party disposed outside of said controlled environment facility.
42. The method of claim 41 , wherein said controlled environment facility comprises a detention facility.