Rebtel Hack: Make Free Unlimited Calls to India and Middle East

Disclaimer: This trick is making use of a flaw in Rebtel to make more free calls with a single phone number in hand. I am not good in legal stuffs. If you feel that this is against any law, don't use it. USE it your own risk, and i cannot be held responsible or liable for the consequences of any use of these tricks.



To demonstrate this hack, i chose 81234567 as your existing phone number. [All mention of this number has to be replaced with your own ]

Do you know that providers ignores any digits after the real number? Yes, that's the hack.

Go Ahead and register each of the below mentioned numbers in Rebtel. You can register any numbers, just that the numbers has to start with your existing phone number.
For the above mentioned number, the valid numbers can be
812345670 to 812345679
8123456700 to 8123456799
and a lot more.
Don't forget to replace 81234567 with your own number :)

Keep in mind that, you have to follow the steps in these links [for India, for Middle east] while registering each number, else Rebtel won't give out free talk time. For each registered number, you will get 80 minutes of call time to India.

To use these registered numbers, you have to verify it. You need to follow below steps for each registered number. Sounds tough?, but It's pretty easy :)

Lets go Step By Step.

1. Dial Rebtel Operator from any unregistered phone. [Rebtel Operator in Singapore is 31031020, For other counties, refer this list of Rebtel operator numbers ]
2. You will hear "Welcome to Rebtel, Please enter your phone number followed by the Hash key"
3. Enter the phone number you want to verify [eg: 812345670#]
4. You will then hear "Please enter your Rebtel pin number followed by the Hash key"
5. Type in your pin number [eg: 1234#]
6. Rebtel operator says "To start using Rebtel services, you need to verify your phone number. To verify this phone number, press 1; To enter another number, press 2"
7. Since we want to verify this number, press 1.
8. The operator replies "Please hang up now, and we will call you straight back with the instructions on what to do next"
9. == Hang Up ==
10. Wait for few seconds, and you will receive a call on your Real number [ie. 81234567], eventhough rebtel is thinking the call is made to 812345670.
    
11. The call says "This is a rebtel verification call. To verify that you want to use this phone with rebtel, press 1. If you do not want to use this phone with rebtel, hang up now"
12. Press 1
13. You will hear this message "Thank you, you can now start using rebtel services, at first you need to end this call"

And you are done. Now dial from any unregistered phone. Follow steps 1 to 5. Since the number is verified, you can make calls using this account. Press 2 and dial the destination number in International Format :)

Happy Calling!!!

Foot Note:
This hack won't last long [remember the 3-series pfingo hack, which lasted only for 1 week]. Once rebtel identifies the length of Cellular / Land line numbers in each country, its a matter of time for them to restrict registrations. Till then call smart!

Disclaimer: This trick is making use of a flaw in Rebtel to make more free calls with a single phone number in hand. I am not good in legal stuffs. If you feel that this is against any law, don't use it. USE it your own risk, and i cannot be held responsible or liable for the consequences of any use of these tricks.

Required links in this post:
Rebtel Registration steps to get 80 minutes of talk time
List of Rebtel Operator Numbers

Mobile Number Changed? - Here is a checklist for smoother transition

Note: This post is not about free/cheap calls. It's all about updating your contact number with Banks.

To make the transition smooth, here is the checklist ;)

Now is the age of 2FA, and most of the financial institutions are using the 2FA (Two factor Authentication) system for enhanced security. This added security is a hassle, if your forget to update your mobile number with them on time. This is a summary of the systems that i updated when i switched to a new provider

1. UOB
I maintain a savings account with UOB. For 2FA, one can choose between a hardware token or SMS OTP (One time password). I opted for SMS OTP, just to avoid the need of carrying the token hardware.

Updating Your Number

Using ATM:
Register or update your local mobile phone numbers at any UOB ATM

By Post: Print this form [2 side], update your SMS OTP Number, fold and post it - Postage will be paid by UOB (Only in Singapore)

2. POSB
POSB has not given me a choice between a Hardware Token / SMS OTP. They right away send across this cute little device. But for adding a Fund Transfer payee, they send a OTP to the registered number. So, your mobile number has to be updated with them as well.

Updating Your Number

POSB has a nice article on this. Here is the extract

How do I apply for iB Message ?

To apply for iB Message, you only need to submit a one-time application online or at any DBS/POSB ATM. The service will be activated immediately.

To apply online, simply:

• Login with your ATM/ Debit card number, card PIN, and other required information.
• Select "iB Message Application/ Update" service.
• Key in your local or foreign personal mobile number.

To see a step-by-step guide on how to apply for iB Message online, please click here.

To apply at the ATM, simply select:

• iBanking, Cash Card & More Services
• PIN/iB Message Service
• Apply/Upd iB Message Service
• Key in your personal mobile phone or message pager number

If you do not have internet access or access to our ATMs, you can apply for this service by completing the Application Form. Your application will be activated 3 working days upon receipt of your form.

3. Citibank

Updating Your Number

Online:
Login to citibank.com.sg, Click on this image on the right, fill in the details. Unlike UOB/POSB, It will take 2-3 working days to update.

By Post:
Here is the form

4. OCBC

Updating Your Number

No option update your mobile number online. Print this form [2 side], update your SMS OTP Number, fold and post it - Postage will be paid by POSB (Only in Singapore)

Updating your personal Profile: Login https://www.ocbc.com/internet-banking/
Click on Personal Profile and then Personal Particulars.

5. SingPass
Open https://www.singpass.gov.sg/sppubsvc/UpdateProfile.htm?mode=1, update your number.
[ This number is required when you use Forgot Password service ]

6. Google Calendar
Follow these steps: http://www.google.com/support/calendar/bin/answer.py?hl=en-ca&answer=41070

7. Other Websites

• Phonecard.com.sg
• pfingo.com
• Job sites - Both the profile and uploaded resume

8. Notifying Friends

• Email them
  
• SMS them
• Update your profile in Social Networking sites
  In Orkut, Click on Edit Contact, Update the Cell Phone Number field. Don't forget to set the privacy to "all of my friends"
• linkedin.com
• geni.com

and goes on ... anything to add, let me know!

Choosing a right Singtel Plan for iPhone

Getting Decent Data for iPhone

1. Rather than signing up for the iFlexi plans with bundled data, let’s look at signing up for a traditional/standard SingTel voice plan
2. Standard voice plans don’t have data, so we’ll add SingTel’s Broadband on Mobile (BoM) plan as a value-added service (VAS), tacked on to the voice plan

Choosing an affordable and suitable BoM plan to add to the standard voice plan:

• The “Lite” and “Value” BoM plans are practically useless, since they offer only 2MB and 10MB free
• The new BBOM Plus iPhone-only plan offers only 500 MB which is insufficient for most users
  • 500 MB isn’t very generous compared to the cheapest iFlexi Value plan with 1 GB of data (if signed up before 5 Sep)
• So we’ll skip them altogether and use the 50 GB “1000” BoM plan at $22.42 for iOne and iTwo

continue here.

Call China 88 + 10 Minutes for Free

"98 Calling minutes to china" offer is only available for new sign ups. So, carefully follow the

steps and enter the voucher code at the time of signing up.

1. Signup for the Rebtel account using this link


2. Click on TRY NOW button


3. Fill in the new voucher code "888" (without quotes) (See Screenshot)


4. Fill in the other details (Use a new email id always) and Click Join


5. That's It. Make free calls; Register using all the available numbers and enjoy!

In Addition:

• 888 free minutes for new customers who credit their account


• Every 888th new user gets 888 RMB ($130 credit) in their account
  
  

Points to Note:

The code has to be entered at the time of registering (sign up) and NOT after sign up. When you first become a member there is a box in the signup page that says "Voucher code" and that's where new users should put in the voucher code.You will not get free 88 minutes if you enter the code after you have signed up, it works only at the time of signing up.



Rebtel allows registrations only from following countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hongkong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States. If you are living outside these countries, try this trick to make cheap calls.