We’ve all probably received a spam call at one point or another. And while younger generations may be savvier to the tactics that spam callers use, older generations are extremely susceptible to having their personal information manipulated by scammers.
However, it makes sense why so many people fall victim. Often, scammers use highly persuasive methods to try to gain personal information from their victims. Understanding the common types of phone scams can be useful in preventing future problems.
Here are some of the most common types of phone scams that everyone should know about.
Common Phone Scams
Scammers, fraudsters, and spammers can take many different forms, and trying to recognize when an unsolicited call is fraud can save you some headache (and heartache) down the line.
These scams may ask for your social security number, debit card or credit card number, or other personal information in an attempt at identity theft. It's important to remember that you should not give financial information away to phone calls from unknown numbers.
Imposter Scams
One of the most prominent types of scams is imposter scams in which an individual on the other end, pretends to be from a government agency, insurance agency, major tech firm, or another prominent business. They may even claim to be from the IRS or pretend to be a family member.
Sometimes, they can manipulate the caller ID through “spoofing,” which can make it even more difficult to recognize if the call is legitimate.
As a rule of thumb, most major institutions will never call you without prior correspondence through mail or email or if you’ve reached out to them previously.
Common scams include posing as police or law enforcement and threatening arrest or deportation, the "grandparents scam" in which fraudsters pretend to be seniors' grandchildren, or claiming recipients failed to appear for jury duty.
Charity Scams
Sometimes, scammers will call and pretend to work at a local charity, often asking for financial contributions. This is especially common after major disasters.
Never feel pressured to give money over the phone immediately. Always check the credibility of a charity before donating. And if possible, try to make donations through their website rather than wire transfer to ensure that the money is going to the intended location.
Debt Relief Scams
Another common type of phone scam involves imitating debt relief companies and offering relief from student loans or mortgages. Additionally, they may offer some form of credit repair.
More often than not, these scammers offer these alleged services for an upfront fee. True debt collection services will not ask for an upfront fee over the phone.
Lottery and Cash Prize Scams
Ever heard the old saying: “If it’s too good to be true, it probably is”? Well, this could not be more accurate when it comes to spam calls.
Some telemarketers or scam callers will claim you're a winner of free cash prizes, gift cards, or compensation for winning the lottery as long as you give them your bank account number so they can deposit the money into your account. They may also say you need to pay shipping charges or taxes.
These are not legitimate calls in any sort of way, so don’t give in if you receive this kind of call.
Extended Car Warranties
If a scammer is able to find out what type of car you drive, they may reach out and try to trick you into buying completely worthless service contracts. If someone ever calls you and offers this type of service, do some more external research before agreeing to anything.
Travel and Timeshare Scams
Scammers may also call and offer free or low-cost vacations if you just pay taxes or small fees. Timeshare resale scams are similar and involve individuals acting like they’ll sell your timeshare if you pay them first.
Loan Scams
Scammers may also pretend to be lenders at mortgage companies or banks, offering attractive loans to individuals with low credit scores. They usually say that you can get great rates by paying an upfront fee.
Legitimate lenders do not make guarantees like that, especially if you have bad credit. Take these calls with a grain of salt, and hang up the phone if it sounds like something is off.
What To Do When You Receive a Scam Call
Receiving a scam call can be scary, but there are a few simple ways to avoid financial loss or breach of privacy when they occur.
Hang Up
If the person on the other end is calling you illegally, and you suspect that they are fraudulent, you should hang up the phone immediately. This is the best way to prevent yourself from accidentally giving them information that can be used against you.
If the call is coming from a robot, you shouldn’t press any buttons, and you should hang up right away. This is because it can lead to more robocalls in the future if the automated system recognizes that your number is legitimate.
Block Them
If you answer the phone on a scammer, it’s possible that they may call you again in the future. You can prevent subsequent calls from the same source by directly blocking them on your phone directly.
On an iPhone, just go to the Phone app and look at your recent calls. Hot the blue information button on the side and then click “Block This Caller.” On Android, go to the Phone app and hit “recents.” Long press the number you want to block, and then just click “Block.”
You can also text an unwanted number to SPAM if you have AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint. This is helpful if you receive spam texts through your SMS messaging system.
You can also add yourself to the Do Not Call registry, which is a government-run free service that makes it illegal for telemarketers to call you. While it won’t prevent charity calls or political calls, it’s a great way to cut back on telemarketing calls that can crowd your inbox otherwise.
Use a Call Blocking App
If your smartphone is your primary form of communication, you may benefit from using a phone app to filter out unwanted calls.
Firewall uses a whitelist approach where you decide whether or not to let a call through. You’ll see their number, as well as why they’re calling, so you can make a sound decision as to whether or not you want to pick up the phone.
This is a more sound alternative to call blocking, as it’s a proactive measure to prevent spam as opposed to a reactive measure.
Call blocking apps can also help prevent scammers from having access to your real phone number by acting as a buffer between your personal number and their line of communication. Plus, it can allow you to make outgoing calls without your number showing up on someone else’s caller ID.
Conclusion
Phone scams are frustrating and annoying, but they can also be dangerous for susceptible populations. Knowing the different kinds can help you identify calls that are not to be trusted.
Imposter scams, charity scams, lottery scams, loan scams, and debt relief scams are just a few of the types of calls you’re susceptible to.
It’s important to:
Hang up the phone,
Never give out your personal information number (PIN)
Block numbers that you suspect are spam so that they no longer bother you.
Try Firewall today and see how it helps keep you protected from phone scams.
Sources:
How to Stop Unwanted Calls | FTC Consumer Information