IS MY PHONE BEING TAPPED?

Headlines from the last year or so have been filled with stories of our government and others wiretapping everyone from private citizens to members of the Senate. Unfortunately, wiretaps aren’t the exclusive domain of the government. Many people have had the rude awakening of finding out competitors, business partners, ex-lovers and others have been tapping their phone. Before you begin to worry, however, consider the following warning signs.

Confidential Information Goes Public

If you’re careful with sensitive information, there’s no way it should end up in the hands of unintended recipients. Some people are so careful about this they only talk about certain things on the phone, far from email or other Internet messaging systems where they believe they can be hacked.

So if you’ve kept confidential conversations to the phone and others have found out, there’s a chance it’s because you’re being tapped.

Unfamiliar Sounds on the Phone

This red flag has been made popular by countless movies, but it’s no less true. Everyone knows the sounds that occur from bad reception, but that’s not what we’re talking about here. Instead, be aware of popping noises, clicking or humming while you’re on the phone. When a wiretap is connected to a phone it can cause these noises because of the two conductors—your phones and the tap—interacting.

These sounds can even occur when you’re not using your phone. Wiretaps can be used to turn your phone into a mobile recording device, meaning it’s on and listening even when you’re not on it talking. Worse yet, it can capture conversations from 20 feet away!

Your Phone Doesn’t Play Well with Others

A phone that’s being wiretapped will stop working correctly if it’s around radios or other electronic devices. One way to check, then, if your suspicions are true is by using your phone around radios. Set one to mono and then tune into one extreme of the band. Move around the room a bit and see if you hear any squeals. Your car radio can also be used for this purpose because eavesdroppers will often take advantage of the antenna.

Another device that might give the malicious party away is your TV. If it starts acting up out of the blue, it might be because of the frequencies being used to tap your phone.

Disturbances at Home

If your home was “burglarized” but nothing was taken, this might have been done to gain access to your phone. Sometimes the only sign may be that you notice your wall plates have been altered. Again, this could have been done because someone was looking to access your phone line. Other signs include debris on the floor or, when you remove the plate, you can tell wires have been altered.

Unrequested Repairs

Of course, an eavesdropped doesn’t need to break into your home if they want to tap your line. Instead, they might get to it through a telephone poll. One trick they can employ is dressing like a utility employee in order to do so in broad daylight.

Should you notice this and suspect you’re being wiretapped, call the phone company to confirm they sent someone out. If they haven’t, you can call the police next.

If Nothing Is Wrong

Sadly, the above are mostly the hallmarks of an amateur eavesdropper or at least one that doesn’t have government connections. If the government is behind it, you might not notice anything other than a nagging suspicion. Even your phone company may hide the truth from you.

Of course, many amateurs can exhibit proficiency. Wiretapping can also be a form of corporate spying, in which case, a real professional was probably behind it.

That’s why so many people rely on my expertise to get to the root of the problem. If you think you may be the victim of a wiretap, I can help you get down to the bottom of it.