The founder of a US Caller ID falsification service is selling up, just days after setting up in business.

Jason Jepson says a death threat was posted to the door of his California home, after the service was publicised. He also received harrassing email and phone messages, the New York Times reports.

Jepson's business, Star38.com, offers a service for US debt collection agencies to spoof the number they are dialling from. This is a way of getting through to poor payers who refuse the answer their phone to any unrecognised number.

Caller ID spoofing has been around in the digital underground for some time, but Star38 is the first company that has tried to turn a profit from the technique.

Jepson hasn't got any customers yet, but he says there's a good business there for someone brave enough to take it on. There are no reports of any bids, just yet. ®

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