We have a case where we need to retrieve a voice mail message that was left on a cell phone. Has anyone come across this before, what would be a forensically sound way of doing this? All programs I look at do not mention anything about gathering voice mail messages, would you call in from a land line to access the mail box and record through the land line phone? Any help would be much appreciated.
Depends on the type of phone? In the past I along with our forensic audio guy have dialled into the phone from a landline and used a local based phone tap to record the audio.
Sometimes you cant avoid doing things that are going to change the original evidence, thats something you need to decide on.
That's what I was thinking, but I do have another question do the voicemails themselves reside on the phone? or do are you dialing into a mailbox that contains them, it is an LG AT&T phone. Additionally if a voicemail is deleted, I suppose there is no chance at recovering it through the phone.
Generally speaking, voicemails are usually not kept on the phone, but stored where you have to dial in to hear them. You can contact AT&T Subpoena Compliance at 800-635-6840 (most current # I have for them…)and ask them 1) If they can provide it, and 2) if you will need a Search Warrant or Subpoena (my guess will be Search Warrant since it involves communication content).
It still wouldn't hurt to examine the phone, as there may be supporting/related text messages or other data, or the phone's owner may have recorded the message to the phone as an audio file…
Hope this helps and good luck.
Joe
Thanks a lot for the help.
I have never come across a voicemail recorded on the actual phone itself. Voicemails (in the UK) are stored in the customer network voicemail box, which is equal to what jmech stated. A directed surveillance might be needed to be authorised to avoid breaches of RIPA etc. Do you have some similar requirement in NY?
Using the exhibit phone to contact the voicemail box will cause changes on the handset as mentioned by Captain F. If however you rang the voicemail box direct and inserted password/pin code/s given by user then the exhibit handset would have no changes.
Thank you for the response Trewmte, i am checking into the requirements to avoid any breach
I have never come across a voicemail recorded on the actual phone itself.
The only exception I can think of is an iPhone - can't remeber the mechanism, whether they are automatically retrieved or whatever, but you do see voicemails actually stored on the handset. Which is very handy!
I have never come across a voicemail recorded on the actual phone itself.
The only exception I can think of is an iPhone - can't remeber the mechanism, whether they are automatically retrieved or whatever, but you do see voicemails actually stored on the handset. Which is very handy!
Alex would those be actual voicemails left directly by the calling party directly on the called party's phone or are they recordings taken from the voicemails depositied at the subscriber's voicemail box in the network.
I thought vociemails were recorded in the network when
a) the subscriber's phone was switched off or not contactable or
b) when the subscriber was involved in a call, and thus engaged.
For a calling party to direct the actual originating voicemail message onto the called party's mobile would require
c) the network annoucement to be transmitted from the phone when it is in state a), which doesn't seems probable or state b) which seems highly unusual (because of traffic charges)
or
d) the network to transmit the network announcement to leave a message but activate a traffic channel to the called party's mobile in order for the calling party to record the message, in which case state a) would be impossible but b) could be/might be possible (but of traffic charging might be a problem) and very unusual service for the network operator to provide.
I am not being obtuse with my comments; I am genuinely interested in what you have said and would like to learn more from you.
Greg
Apple term the feature "Visual Voicemail" http//
From what I've read this functionality on the iPhone is network reliant (ie people with unlocked iPhones, using them on carriers that don't officially support the iPhone don't get it). So I presume, where the service exists, if there are voicemails stored on the provider's servers they are either pushed to the handset (which I think is unlikely) or the handset is notified and goes and fetches the message which is then stored locally as an audio file.
It's discussed here http//
Perhaps someone with contacts at O2 (or any of the carriers that support the iPhone) could confirm how it works?