# How do celebrities and prominent politicians authenticate themselves when calling someone? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 1, 2021, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-celebrities-and-prominent-politicians-authenticate-themselves-when-calling-someone/929472 "2021-01-01T23:49:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-celebrities-and-prominent-politicians-authenticate-themselves-when-calling-someone/929472/41 "2021-01-03T01:34:48Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > How would I know? Went to the Play Store, it says over 500 million downloads. The exact number doesn’t matter, it’s more the point that it’s a metric fuckload of users. Definitely more than any American cell carrier that’s for sure. If those users are in countries where it is difficult or impossible to spoof numbers, then they are irrelevant to what we are discussing here. The numbers you are backlisting are NOT the numbers the scammers and spammers are actually calling from. Hint: the majority of the scammers are calling the US from a country where the telecom system is not so fucked up that you can pretend to be calling from anywhere. And that’s where the vast majority of Trucaller users are. Because it works there. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-celebrities-and-prominent-politicians-authenticate-themselves-when-calling-someone/929472/42 "2021-01-03T08:01:19Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > I believe that Bill Gates or Tom Cruise is not going to cold call me. People in power would work through a chain of command that I am familiar with like well, some people are different. Suppose you own a landscaping company called the Four Seasons, and Guliani called you about a filming a national press conference. Somebody obviously believed it. Although maybe they weren’t really convinced that it was real…After all, they did forget to mention the porn shop next door 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![its\_the\_daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bb73d2/32.png) [@its\_the\_daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/its_the_daddy)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-celebrities-and-prominent-politicians-authenticate-themselves-when-calling-someone/929472/43 "2021-01-03T10:02:52Z")
[Rory Bremner prank may have averted Tory party revolt | National Archives | The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/dec/30/rory-bremner-prank-conservative-tory-party-revolt-john-major) A lovely example of how an impressionist changed the course of British politics (for a short time, at least). ---
**Author:** ![Bootb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-celebrities-and-prominent-politicians-authenticate-themselves-when-calling-someone/929472/44 "2021-01-03T16:34:21Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > If their product is something that is useful to me, I would be calling them. If a business is calling me, they’re trying to sell me something I don’t need or want. Unless you’ve already called them–say, for example, that your computer needs repair and you called for a quote. And then the owner, who just happens to be working from home that day, calls you back from his home office phone. And since it’s not the number you called, you don’t recognize it, and so you don’t answer. I honestly don’t understand how such a simple concept manages to elude so many people. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-celebrities-and-prominent-politicians-authenticate-themselves-when-calling-someone/929472/45 "2021-01-03T17:01:53Z")
In that case, I’d expect the store owner to _leave a message_, which I can then return. The scammers often don’t leave messages, or if they do, they’re prerecorded and obviously scammy. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-celebrities-and-prominent-politicians-authenticate-themselves-when-calling-someone/929472/46 "2021-01-03T18:34:41Z")
> [@ASGuy](#): > > I do not have caller ID. How does that work in the 21st century? AFAIK, it’s not even an add-on anymore. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-celebrities-and-prominent-politicians-authenticate-themselves-when-calling-someone/929472/47 "2021-01-03T18:54:16Z")
> [@bump](#): > > How does that work in the 21st century? AFAIK, it’s not even an add-on anymore. The point is, it does _not_ work. People can just spoof the ID number. Unless you’re the President and get a message over the secure “Red Phone” link. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-celebrities-and-prominent-politicians-authenticate-themselves-when-calling-someone/929472/48 "2021-01-03T19:55:04Z")
> [@Bootb](#): > > > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > > > If their product is something that is useful to me, I would be calling them. > > Unless you’ve already called them–say, for example, that your computer needs repair and you called for a quote. Uhhhh…yes? That’s what I wrote. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-celebrities-and-prominent-politicians-authenticate-themselves-when-calling-someone/929472/49 "2021-01-03T20:43:03Z")
No, I meant how do you not have it? I didn’t think it was something you could sign up for (or opt out of) these days. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-celebrities-and-prominent-politicians-authenticate-themselves-when-calling-someone/929472/50 "2021-01-03T21:11:59Z")
[This article](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38202271) from the BBC, although four years old, goes into how it works when one world leader calls another. The calls are planned and arranged by the situation rooms in the two countries, or by ambassdors. There will be an agenda, a stated purpose for the call and an agreed-upon time for the call to occur. Also, in the US at least, the POTUS will be briefed ahead of the call with any relevant information about the country or the world leader, including some personal stuff to ask about. (E.g… “How is your spouse? I’m so glad to hear that they recovered from their illness.”) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2021, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-celebrities-and-prominent-politicians-authenticate-themselves-when-calling-someone/929472/51 "2021-01-04T23:28:44Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > [This article](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38202271) from the BBC, although four years old, goes into how it works when one world leader calls another. The calls are planned and arranged by the situation rooms in the two countries, or by ambassdors. There will be an agenda, a stated purpose for the call and an agreed-upon time for the call to occur. Also, in the US at least, the POTUS will be briefed ahead of the call with any relevant information about the country or the world leader, including some personal stuff to ask about. (E.g… “How is your spouse? I’m so glad to hear that they recovered from their illness.”)\_ You’d sometimes see scenes depicting these kinds of details in _The West Wing_. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-celebrities-and-prominent-politicians-authenticate-themselves-when-calling-someone/929472/52 "2021-01-06T03:51:26Z")
You could have a land line, the land line has nothing to display the caller ID on incoming calls. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-celebrities-and-prominent-politicians-authenticate-themselves-when-calling-someone/929472/53 "2021-01-06T06:58:14Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > You could have a land line, the land line has nothing to display the caller ID on incoming calls I have a landline and it certainly displays the CallerID. What are you talking about? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-celebrities-and-prominent-politicians-authenticate-themselves-when-calling-someone/929472/54 "2021-01-06T07:00:41Z")
Yes, YOUR land line does. Many dont. The fact that yours displays ID does not mean everyone’s does. My response was to Bump _"How does that work in the 21st century? AFAIK, it’s not even an add-on anymore._" My answer said you could have a landline which doesnt display caller ID. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-celebrities-and-prominent-politicians-authenticate-themselves-when-calling-someone/929472/55 "2021-01-06T07:15:16Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > My answer said you could have a landline which doesnt display caller ID. Well, maybe that’s what you _thought_ you said. > You could have a land line, the **land line has nothing to display the caller ID on incoming calls**. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-celebrities-and-prominent-politicians-authenticate-themselves-when-calling-someone/929472/56 "2021-01-06T14:31:45Z")
C’mon, all of us have a rotary princess phone somewhere in the house…uh, right? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-celebrities-and-prominent-politicians-authenticate-themselves-when-calling-someone/929472/57 "2021-01-06T17:18:55Z")
Here’s a very recent article that shows the issue: > Trump’s obsession with Georgia is such that the president placed [no fewer than 18 calls](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-sabotage-republicans/2021/01/04/df5d301e-4eb1-11eb-83e3-322644d82356_story.html?itid=lk_inline_manual_24) to its secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, before finally reaching him. (His incompetence is such that he was dialing the press office, where interns answered and hung up, assuming that it was a prank.) > **[Opinion | Trump’s devastation of the Republican Party is nearly complete](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/01/06/trumps-devastation-republican-party-is-nearly-complete/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F2e346ed%2F5ff5e8b79d2fda0efba1c61a%2F5edf9b6c9bbc0f3a78a01125%2F17%2F70%2F5ff5e8b79d2fda0efba1c61a)** > > To Trump, the party was a rental vehicle, one that he took for a joyride and is getting ready to turn back in, with trash jammed under the seats and stains on the upholstery. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-celebrities-and-prominent-politicians-authenticate-themselves-when-calling-someone/929472/58 "2021-01-06T17:29:59Z")
When Trump was calling the Georgia secretary of state, was he placing the call directly himself or was he going through the White House operators? My guess is that he called himself and that the operators know the process to deal with a skeptical person. Also, they would not have called the press office. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-celebrities-and-prominent-politicians-authenticate-themselves-when-calling-someone/929472/59 "2021-01-06T18:17:38Z")
Yes, that is right. "You could have a land line, the land line has nothing to display the caller ID on incoming calls . " that was a example of someone who has a landline that cant display incoming calls. They are quite common. I did not say “No land lines are capable of displaying incoming calls” ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-celebrities-and-prominent-politicians-authenticate-themselves-when-calling-someone/929472/60 "2021-01-06T18:17:50Z")
Either way, my point was that it’s well nigh ubiquitous these days, and I’m not even sure if you can opt out of having it as part of your phone service (land OR cell) anymore. Maybe you still can… I got rid of my landline over a decade ago, so I’m not so up on what they offer these days. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-celebrities-and-prominent-politicians-authenticate-themselves-when-calling-someone/929472.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-celebrities-and-prominent-politicians-authenticate-themselves-when-calling-someone/929472.md?page=4)