How scam phone numbers work and how to avoid them – Guide
The scammers have been using this technology for years and are now embracing it more because of caller ID. Now that most of us have smartphones with built-in caller ID, the scammers are using a way to spoof the numbers so that it looks like the call is from someone else. This is also called “spoofing.” Unfortunately, while this has been happening for years, it’s been increasing recently because of how much time we’re spending on our devices during lockouts. Alex Merton-McCann, McAfee Cybersecurity Ambassador to Australia said, “False numbers have been part of scammers’ toolkits for years, but we are certainly seeing an increase in the use of this technique as we spend more time on our devices during the lockout.” ..
If you receive a call from a local number, it’s important to determine if it’s a legitimate call or not. If the caller seems friendly and they’re asking for your name and information, it’s likely that the caller is trying to help you out and is not trying to scam you. However, if the caller asks for money or any other valuable items, then it’s likely that the caller is trying to scam you.
How do scammers fake a phone number?
Spoofing is a practice where someone on the other end of the phone line pretends to be someone else, often with malicious intent. This happens in the final stages of a phone call, when service providers allow callers to spoof their identities. ..
Text messaging systems allow you to replace the sender’s name and phone number, as well as voice over IP systems used by call centers. This feature allows a scammer to pretend to be someone else and why this dubious caller can seem local when he is actually calling from a far away country. ..
How can you identify a schema caller?
The local number you are receiving a call from may make it difficult to determine if the call is real or fake.
Telecommunications companies are trying to block these calls, something Telstra’s Cleaner Pipes program actively does defensively for people using its network. However, education and awareness can be our best line of defense against a fraudulent caller who uses a fake number.
What should you do when a fraudulent caller rings a spoofed number?
When you choose up a fraudulent call on a spoofed number, the moment it sounds dodgy, hang up. And if you’re struggling to figure out if it feels wrong, take a tip from an expert. “If you get an unsolicited call from a business or government agency, you can be pretty sure it’s from a scammer, regardless of what the caller ID says,” said Merton-McCann. “It’s incredibly rare that an organization will call you out of the blue if you haven’t contacted them first – and even rarer for them to ask for your valuable personal or financial information to resolve an issue,” she said.
If you’re worried, Google the phone number of the organization that you think called you and ask if they did. You may be surprised to find out that they didn’t.
The mobile number that you allegedly received on your phone has been spoofed and unfortunately the user on the other end won’t know. Instead, report the scam to the ACCC’s Scamwatch program and hope for government intervention.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is a public broadcaster in Australia. It was founded on 1 January 1923 as the Australian Broadcasting Company, and became an independent public broadcaster on 1 July 1996. The ABC is a member of the United Nations Broadcasting Union.
Final note
How scam phone numbers work and how to avoid them is a guide that will teach you how to identify and avoid scams by phone. This guide will help you understand how scam numbers work, what to look for, and what to do if you receive a call from one. ..
