Call abuse prevention for pay-per-call services

Abstract

A VoIP-enabled communications system monitors abuse criteria for web initiated telephone calls. A hyperlink in user interface code allows a web-based user to initiate a telephone call to a target telephone number associated with the hyperlink, particularly to merchants of goods and services. If the user clicks on the hyperlink, the target telephone number will be provided to the communications application to facilitate making a telephone call. However, before the call is connected, the user enter a telephone number where the system will call back to bridge the call, and abuse criteria relative to the web-based user's telephone number are evaluated. If the abuse criteria are met, then the call is not connected. For example, one abuse criterion counts the number of times that calls back to the user go unanswered. Another abuse criterion counts the number of times that the target telephone number has been called. If abuse criteria are met, then a voice connection is precluded. Multiple levels of restrictions can be imposed on either the web-based user's telephone number or the target telephone number for repeated violations of the abuse criteria.