Phone tapping

[Axon]

A few minutes ago, a friend of mine said he thinks his phone is being monitored. He came to this conclusion when he reported hearing his echo on the other side of the phone call several times. However, I'm not an expert in the field of phone tapping, but after engaging in a discussion with this friend and other friends, I came to the conclusion that there is a common knowledge among people (at least where I live) that whenever you hear your echo when making a phone call,then this is a clear indicative sign that you are being monitored.

For your information, this friend is making a regular calls to a certain middle eastern country that is torn by war and chaos. Therefore, my questions are simple. How do you know that your phone is being tapped? What are the sign that are considered indicative, and is it possible to avoid being monitored by the government? I would highly appreciate if someone can provide a link that examine this subject in detail and provide some solutions.

In this world of universal deception, one should not be oblivious to what's going on around him/her.

[gray-fox]

I've had that echoing happening with few differenet phones from time to time  and i'm quit sure my phone hasn't been tapped. Ofc. one can never know. But maybe and most likely it's just some reception issue?

Maybe your friend should buy prepaid simcard and do calling from it for while(with same phone). If echoing continues he knows it is related to phones hardware(rules out old fashioned tapping in carriers end, right?), if not it's related to telephone subscription.
I don't really know anythin about this kind of thing.(just saying that it would be clear) Just sharing my thoughts.

[proxx]

An echo is hardly a reason to think you are tapped.
This would also suggest this is an analog procces , its not.

[Kulverstukas]

I doubt this is valid for mobile networks - for landline phones, yes. When 2 people are talking and 3rd person is listening, then you hear an echo, but mobile is digital, so the government just has to connect/record that line digitally or listen through radio waves.
I think with mobile there's no sure way of knowing that you are being monitored.

[kenjoe41]

Where i live, an echo is symbolic of the other reciever putting the phone in loudspeaker rather than earpiece mode.
You should try it and you might be surprised. It also sometimes happens when the person recieves with the earphones inside.

[imylfs]

If he's in contact with any foreign country or has ties like family and friends, he can safely assume he's being watched closer than most.

[Axon]

If he's in contact with any foreign country or has ties like family and friends, he can safely assume he's being watched closer than most.

He's making calls to Syria and Lebanon? His family is in Syria. That's a strong indication that he's being monitored, he himself thinks that because of his frequent calls to these specific countries,he's been monitored.

[shadowwolf]

He's making calls to Syria and Lebanon? His family is in Syria. That's a strong indication that he's being monitored, he himself thinks that because of his frequent calls to these specific countries,he's been monitored.

Where does he live?(country)

[Axon]

Where does he live?(country)

I don't think that matters, almost all countries spy on thier citizens or residents. Not to be specific, he lives in a central European country. Anyway, all of his phone calls are made with cellphone(galaxy s5).

[KingCasra]

First off tell your buddy to stop using that phone for now. Since we can't be sure if it is tapped or not it is your better option to just get a pre-paid SIM and call back to Syria from there. If anybody is monitoring him and it he is not a Terrorist or Drug dealer then there is nothing to worry about other than your privacy being invaded. If he is then buddy is looking at 25- life in Federal Prison.

[chapp]

If you're living in 2014 and believe that an echo when making cellular phone calls is a clear sign of being tapped taking off the tin foil hat would be my first advice. Wouldn't it be nice if it was that easy? Ohh boy I wish..