<P> Caller ID spoofing is the practice of causing the telephone network to indicate to the receiver of a call that the originator of the call is a station other than the true originating station . For example, a caller ID display might display a phone number different from that of the telephone from which the call was placed . The term is commonly used to describe situations in which the motivation is considered malicious by the originator . </P> <P> Caller ID spoofing has been available for years to people with a specialized digital connection to the telephone company, called an ISDN PRI circuit . Collection agencies, law - enforcement officials, and private investigators have used the practice, with varying degrees of legality . </P>

What does it mean to spoof a phone number