Smartphones have become an important part of people’s lives, and receiving calls from unknown numbers has become common. Most of the time, these calls are harmless, but there is a growing concern about scammers and fraudsters using phone calls to trick and scam people.
This article discusses ways to check a scammer, identifying a scammer, some common phone scams and tips to protect from those scams.
Ways to check if a number is a scammer
A few ways will help you check if the unknown number you are getting calls from is a scammer or not.
Use reverse phone check websites
Using a reverse phone lookup website, finding out who’s behind a phone number is easy. These websites usually give you a free report to check a phone number immediately. But if you need information on many numbers, you might have to subscribe to their service.
Search the internet
If the website or phone number belongs to a real company or someone you recognise, you’ll find their official website or social media page near the top of your search results. But if a scammer is using it, you might see links to places where people report bad callers, and you may also see some comments about it.
Use apps to find Caller ID
If you ever get calls from people you don’t recognise and want to avoid scams, there are special apps that can assist you. One of these apps is called TrapCall, and it’s available for both iPhones and Android phones. This app checks out the caller and gives you information like their name and where they live.
But remember, this app isn’t free. You’ll need to pay for a membership. However, it’s a useful tool to reveal who’s calling from unknown numbers and keep yourself safe from scams.
Also read: How to track a scammer on Whatsapp?
Identifying Phone Scams
Phone scams can be tricky, but they often use similar tricks like making promises, giving threats, or asking for money in specific ways. Here is how you can identify a scammer:
- Suspicious Requests: If someone you don’t know asks for private details like your Social Security number, bank info, or credit card numbers, you should be cautious. Real companies won’t do this on the phone.
- Too Good to Be True: Scammers might promise big prizes, awards, or lottery wins to get your attention. But it’s probably a trick if they want you to pay or give personal info to claim your prize.
- Threats and Pressure: Some scammers act tough, saying they’re cops or government workers, and they’ll threaten you with arrest, fines, or legal trouble if you don’t do what they say. Real authorities don’t do this over the phone.
- Caller ID Spoofing: Scammers can change how their number looks on your phone, making it seem real. Don’t rely only on what the caller ID shows.
Common phone scams
Phone scams can happen in many ways, but here are some tricks scammers often use:
- Imposter scams: Sometimes, scammers act like people you know and trust, like government workers, family members, or someone who says your computer has a problem. They might even make their number look real on your phone.
- Credit and debt scams: Scammers may offer to help with your money problems, like lowering credit card interest rates or fixing your credit score. But they might take your money and make your problems worse.
- Business and Investment scams: Some callers say they can help you start a business or make lots of money from an investment. Don’t believe them right away. Check with the FTC’s Business Opportunity Rule and your state’s securities regulator.
- Fake charity scams: Scammers pretend to be charities, especially when disasters happen. Before donating, check if it’s a real charity, and don’t feel rushed to give over the phone.
- Extended car warranty scams: Scammers know your car details and try to sell you expensive service contracts you don’t need.
- Free trial scams: They might offer a free trial but sign you up for things you must pay for monthly.
- Loan scams: Scammers promise loans or credit cards, especially if you have bad credit, but you have to pay them first. Real lenders don’t guarantee loans like that.
- Fake prizes and lotteries scams: You might get a call saying you won a prize, but they’ll ask for money for taxes or fees. After you pay, you find out there is no prize.
- Travel and timeshare scams: Scammers promise cheap vacations or help sell your timeshare, but it can cost you more than you think, and sometimes it’s a lie.
Tips to Protect Yourself
Now that you know how to spot potential scammers, let’s discuss ways to protect yourself from falling victim to their schemes:
- Screen Calls: If you receive a call from an unknown number, let it go to voicemail. Legitimate callers will often leave a message.
- Verify Caller Information: If the caller claims to represent a legitimate organisation, hang up and call the official number from their website or official documents to verify their identity.
- Don’t Share Personal Information: Never give out personal or financial information over the phone unless you know the caller’s identity.
- Use Call Blocking Apps: Consider using call-blocking apps or services that can identify and block known scam numbers automatically.
- Report Scams: If you receive a suspicious call, report it to your local authorities and to relevant consumer protection agencies.
Also read: How to identify WhatsApp scams?
