Scammers are not just online; they’re also making phone calls to trick you. Here’s how to identify and protect yourself from scam calls.
How Can I Tell if a Call is a Scam?
- Unknown Numbers: Be cautious of calls from numbers you don’t recognize, especially if they have strange area codes.
- Urgent Language: Scammers often use urgent or threatening words, saying you must act quickly.
- Requests for Personal Information: Never give out sensitive information like your Social Security number, bank details, or passwords.
- Unsolicited Offers: Be wary of unexpected offers for prizes, money, or services.
- Caller ID Spoofing: Sometimes, the caller ID shows a familiar number, but the call feels suspicious.
- Pressure to Pay: If someone demands immediate payment using gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency, it's likely a scam.
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What Are Common Phone Call Scams?
- Support Scam Calls: Calls pretending to be from tech support, claiming you are owed a refund or need to renew a license.
- Impersonation Scams: Scammers may pretend to be from trusted organizations or government agencies.
- Utility Scams: Calls threatening to cut off your utilities unless you pay immediately.
- Collect Call Scams: Calls from someone pretending to be in distress, asking you to accept and pay for a collect call.
- Financial Scams: Unsolicited calls offering business loans with upfront fees or promises of quick money.
Why Am I Getting These Scam Phone Calls?
- Data Breaches: Information from hacked databases can be sold to scammers.
- Auto-Dialers: Automated systems that call random numbers.
- Public Listings: Information from public directories or social media.
What Should I Do If I Receive a Scam Phone Call?
- Do Not Engage: Avoid answering calls from unknown numbers. If you do answer, don’t share personal information.
- Hang Up: If the call feels suspicious, hang up right away.
- Verify the Caller: If they claim to be from a legitimate organization, hang up and call that organization directly using a verified number.
- Report the Call: Report the scam call to your phone carrier and authorities like the FTC or your local consumer protection agency.
- Block the Number: Use your phone’s blocking feature to stop future calls from that number.