How to Identify and Prevent the Most Common Phone Scams
While they may seem outdated, phone scams are still rampant. The Inspector General of the US Treasuryreceives between 9,000 and 12,000 complaints a week . According to the Princeton Research Survey Associates , “people over 50 are disproportionately victims of telephone scams.” Make sure you and your loved ones know how to identify and avoid the most common phone scams like this one.
Beware of phony fundraisers and charities
From time to time, you may receive a call asking you to contribute to a fundraising campaign for a local organization. Beware: this could be a scam. After receiving your financial information, the fraudster will take your funds and keep them for himself.
For example, in New Jersey recently, scammers disguised themselves as the local police department. Local law enforcement sent out a warning, writing to citizens : “Despite what telemarketers tell you, your West Long Police Department does not benefit from donation phone calls.”
There is a simple solution. If you are determined to contribute, hang up and call the official line of the local organization of which they are a part. It’s a little clumsy, but minimizes your chances of being scammed. As the FBI recommends , you can also request written submissions about any charity (which may still be fake) before making a donation.
You will want to find the official website and phone number because a scammer could leave you with a fake organization name (or a name that looks like an official one with one or two words changed) and a fake number. And by the way: if you want to avoid computer-voiced calls, hang up immediately .
The IRS advises never to divulge personal financial information, such as social security numbers or passwords, to anyone who requests a donation from you to charity. Whenever possible, make payments by check, credit card, or other means that provides documentation of the gift.
Don’t be intimidated by fake calls to the IRS
Scammers are masters of emotional manipulation. They push buttons – adding fear or a sense of urgency – to get you to act without thinking about it. And what are many people most afraid of? Tax inspector, of course.
Lately, scammers have been calling people posing as the IRS to warn them that this is their last notice to report their taxes. Fraudsters can also “warn” the listener by threatening deportation or jail time if they do not act quickly. For the unsuspecting person, this threat could overcome any skepticism they might have about the call. This fear leads directly to the impulsive actions the fraudster wanted.
IRS Commissioner John Koskinen says in this IRS report :
If someone unexpectedly calls, claiming to be from the IRS, with aggressive threats, if you don’t pay immediately, it’s a scammer calling. The first IRS contact with taxpayers is usually by mail. Taxpayers have rights, but we do business differently.
The IRS will also not use email, text messages, or any social media to contact you.
You can listen to the automatic scam call here to understand how one of these calls sounds. Even though this sounds official, you have to remind yourself that this is a fake. Don’t let them catch you off guard. If you want to confirm that you do not have to pay taxes, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. Their staff can help you with payment.
Watch out for tech support scams
If you ever get a call from Technical Services asking you to confirm your information or help you install an update, let them know you will call back. Fraudsters can easily impersonate technical support personnel and be considered officials. For example, scammers often impersonate Microsoft tech personnel to force people to share control of their computer . (Here’s an example of what a call would look like and the steps scammers usually take .)
Daniel Williams, a member of the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center, advises in this article , “We want consumers to know that if your phone rings and someone wants to fix your computer, it’s a scam.”
These scammers are capable of spoofing official caller ID numbers , so you should ignore this fake legitimacy. Never go to phone numbers or URLs they share with you. If you really want to make sure there are no problems, hang up, find your company’s official support line and give them a call.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a single application or method that keeps you safe. The most effective way to protect yourself from phone scams is to get more information, hang up the phone without taking any action, and have it checked. As Microsoft recommends , when you are on the phone with the tech support representative who called you, never buy any software or service. Never share control of your computer. Never provide financial information to anyone claiming to be support personnel. Make a note of the caller’s information so that you can report it to your local authorities right away if you find it is a fraud after calling.
By the way, scammers are not limited to technical support personnel only. They can also easily impersonate someone else, such as a financial services representative. Watch your ears and eyes closely and be suspicious of incoming calls from services.
How to minimize incoming fraudulent calls
The easiest way to minimize your exposure to fraudulent calls is to keep a close eye on incoming calls. Start by not answering calls from unknown numbers. If the information is important or urgent, callers will likely leave voicemail or find another way to reach you. You can also Google the number when your phone rings as other people may have filed complaints with communities such as 800Notes , Caller Complaints, and WhoCalledUs .
Don’t feel obligated to call back strange numbers, especially if they hang up after the first call. As the Better Business Bureau points out, it can be a scam designed to bill victims for international calls, but also an unwanted premium service (usually a $ 19.95 fee).
You’ve probably heard of the Do Not Call list , and although we recommend that you enter your number on it, it is unlikely to help here. Only law-abiding organizations follow the DNC list, and scammers don’t play by the rules. They also frequently call phone codes from countries outside North America , including India, China, and Russia.
If scammers call you on your mobile phone, you can use Trapcall (which we mentioned earlier ) to track their blocked numbers. Unfortunately, the service does not work with landline phones yet. While Trapcall can expose blocked numbers, it cannot provide a real number behind fake Caller IDs.
Caller ID spoofing is difficult to track down, but you can do it with your phone carrier. They may move slowly at your request (since it costs them hours of engineers), but they will have to provide information with a subpoena from the local law enforcement company . If you’re curious about a technical explanation of why you might need help from a provider, check out this Stack Exchange thread .
What to do if you (or someone you know) have been deceived
If you ever become a victim of a scam, file a Identity Theft Report with the FTC . Filing a report or complaint with the FTC may not provide immediate results, but it will add your information to investigations that will ultimately pay off. Earlier, we covered five steps to take right after you have been tricked. We’ve also shared steps to get rid of telemarketers , some of which you can also use to get rid of scammers (just remember, they don’t play by the rules!).
Get ready for an unpleasant call. As you can see from the call examples above, if you come across them, scammers can scold you or threaten you. Don’t let their intimidation bother you.
You never get anything for free
Remember, scammers prey on your emotions, especially your fear, generosity, or greed. These emotions can hide warning signs from you that you might notice. Be vigilant when on the phone and don’t forget about other scams that happen offline .