IP Relay Operator 7624

What in the hell is IP Relay?
“IP Relay allows people who have difficulty hearing or speaking to communicate with anyone in the world through an Internet connection. IP Relay is accessed using a computer and the Internet, rather than a TTY and a telephone. So individuals who use IP Relay do not need to invest in a TTY; they simply use the computer to communicate.” - Info from the FCC

Basically, it’s just a service so that deaf people can type-out messages on the net and have an operator call and read them to people, leave them as voice messages, etc. The service is offered via several different websites: IP-Relay.com, Sprint IP, Sorenson IP Relay, etc.

So what?
This service is pretty much wide open to abuse. The Nigerian 419 Scammers (Advance fee fraud) apparently love the thing. Here’s a link to some info on one of the ways they use it: Credit card use through IP Relay.

ummm… I still don’t care.
Well, pranksters also love the thing. They generally just do a bunch of lame stuff, but one of them hit comedy gold a couple years back when he got IP Relay Operator 7624.

Here’s the best IP Relay prank call session ever:

Dude! That can’t be real.
It can be. And, it is. Here’s how easy they make this:

“Calls terminating within the United States are placed confidentially and free of charge. Users have the ability to request a male or female operator based on preference. …users are not required to register or provide proof of disability. - Info from IP-Relay.com

You can even access IP Relay services via AIM and wireless devices. So, like I said before: this service is pretty much wide open to abuse.

How come they allow the cursing and whatnot?
There’s this nifty little document called The Constitution of the United States of America that currently has 27 amendments. The first 10 amendments are what makeup that whole Bill of Rights thing. And, the first one on that list gives us freedom of speech among other things. So… You can’t exactly provide a communication tool to the deaf and then restrict what they can say through it. That’s right: deaf people are afforded the same right to call-up their exes at all hours of the night to explain what worthless piece of shit life sucking whores they are. :P

Dude! I’m sooooo going to have fun with this!
Well, if you do make some prank calls via IP Relay: at least be funny about it. And, don’t act like an abusive dickhead towards the operators. These people are not telemarketers and shouldn’t be treated as such. Prank IP Relay calls rarely go-off as well as the ones above with Operator 7624. She was a good-sport about it and obviously having fun. In fact; I think I’m also in love with IP Relay Operator 7624, so don’t go abusing one of my future ex wives.

Some info / links for you extra curious people
IP Relay gets it’s funding from the Interstate Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) Fund. That fund gets funded by YOU via “rate adjustments or surcharges on local telephone bills”. I think the feds also kick some cash into that fund. And, that of course comes from you also via federal taxes.

The operators put-up with so much shit from disrespectful dip-shits and kids that it’s the major topic in their circles. Here’s a forum some IP Relay Operators hang-out on: Relay Operator Resource. Their general discussion area is entitled: “General Discussion and Venting”. Yeah, I guess having 14 year-olds telling you “fuck you fucker-head” all day gets pretty old.