What is Call Stretching?
What is Call Stretching?
Section titled “What is Call Stretching?”Call stretching is a method used by fraudulent carriers to inflate the duration of a call, generating more termination revenue at the expense of legitimate carriers. It is one of the more difficult telecom fraud schemes to detect because the calls themselves start as legitimate.
How It Works
Section titled “How It Works”Call stretching operates in two main variations:
Basic method: The fraudulent carrier keeps the line active for several seconds after the call has been terminated by one party, padding the billable duration.
Advanced method: A portion of the live conversation is recorded and then played back immediately after the originating party disconnects. The remaining party hears a familiar voice and may not realize the call has ended, keeping the line open for minutes longer than necessary.
Because originating carriers calculate payouts based on call duration, they end up paying the fraudulent terminating carrier more than the actual call warranted.
Impact on Carriers and Users
Section titled “Impact on Carriers and Users”- Carriers overpay termination fees and must manage customer complaints about unexpected charges or privacy concerns from recorded conversations.
- Businesses may see inflated telecom bills without any obvious explanation.
- Privacy is a concern when voice segments are recorded without consent.
How to Protect Yourself
Section titled “How to Protect Yourself”- Report unusual calls to your phone provider if you frequently experience calls that seem to stay active after you hang up.
- Monitor your telecom bills for unexpected duration charges on short or incomplete calls.
- Do not feel obligated to stay on the line if a call seems unusual — hang up promptly and let legitimate callers leave a voicemail.