If random numbers have been blowing up your phone lately, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, scam calls are a growing problem. There is help out there, though. You can identify a scam call without picking up the phone. Once you’ve confirmed its scammy status, you can block or report the number. These essential tips wil help you verify a caller’s legitimacy, even after you’ve picked up the call.
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How to Check a Suspected Scammer Number
We recommend not answering any calls from unknown numbers. With scam tactics becoming increasingly sophisticated and harder to spot, answering and engaging with unknown callers can put you at risk. If you’re expecting a call – for example, from a courier or your doctor’s office – it’s most likely safe to answer. But if you’re getting frequent calls from unknown numbers, you may want to do something about it.
Check the Number Carefully
When you get a call from an unknown number, make it a habit to quickly review the number that’s calling you. Does it have a country code you can’t recognize? If so, Google it quickly. If you’re getting calls from places like Bangladesh, Namibia, or other faraway countries, you may as well assume you’re dealing with a spammer. Unless you have family over there or have recently traveled to that country, there’s no good reason to get a call from this region. Avoid answering, then double-check the number.
Search the Number Online
To verify that the call you’ve received is spam, turn to Google. Search for the number (add the country code, too, if you want) and check the results. You may stumble upon forums or threads on a website where people are asking the same question as you – who is calling from this number?
I tend to rely on a Google search when I suspect that the number calling must be from a company that’s offering deals or discounts. While these calls aren’t technically spam, I had advertisers call me almost every day for a full week straight, and I was simply not interested in engaging. Instead, I Googled their numbers to make sure I wasn’t missing any important calls. Almost every time I found information regarding the number I was searching.
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Try Using One of the Dedicated Websites
If you find it easier, try using one of the dedicated websites that will help you find a number in their database. Depending on where you live, these may vary. If you’re based in the US, you can try some of the following:
On any of the websites, make sure you check other people’s comments. They may offer some relevant information regarding the kind of scam the caller is trying to implement or their behavior. Also, verify whether the comments are recent, since numbers can be unassigned and reassigned.
On mobile, install one of the caller ID apps listed above to help you identify who’s calling you, while also providing built-in automatic spam protection.
There are also number lookup and people finder websites, but they aren’t effective when it comes to identifying scam numbers. Scammers often use “spoofed” phone numbers to hide their identifies and make it look like they are calling from legitimate organizations, so you’ll want to use some of the tools mentioned above instead.
Abstain From Calling Them Back
Unless you’re absolutely sure the number isn’t spam – for instance, your doctor’s office called and you were able to identify the phone number on the clinic’s official website – it’s not really a good idea to call the unknown number back.
Some scammers employ a technique called “wangiri,” where they let a phone ring just once and hang up in hopes of piquing the victim’s curiosity and prompting a callback. These return calls typically connect to premium rate lines with exorbitant per-minute charges, where the scammer will try to prolong the conversation to maximize their profit.
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How to Block Scam Numbers
Once you’ve identified a scammy number, you may want to block it on your phone. Your built-in phone app probably has this option. On Android, if you’re using the Google Phone app, tap on the three dots in the upper-right corner and select Settings.
Go to Blocked numbers. Enable the switch next to Unknown to block calls from unidentified numbers, or add a number to block manually by pressing the Add a number option. Read on for more tips and tricks on how to stop spam calls on your Android.
On iOS, go to Settngs -> Phone -> Blocked Contacts, then press Add new to add a new number.
How to Report Scam Numbers
You may want to consider reporting a scam number as well to bring down the number of scammers and prevent these scams from happening to other more vulnerable users.
In the U.S., you can report spam calls via the Federal Trade Commission. The same governmental body has a National Do Not Call Registry tool, which could also be of use. Those in the U.K. may want to check the National Cyber Security Center. If you’re in a different country, do a Google search for the appropriate regional channels to report a spam call.
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A Few Tips to Identify a Scam Caller
Inadvertently answer a suspicious call? No worries! These quick tips will help you identify a scammer right away.
- Urgency and threats – pressure tactics and “pay now or else” calls are a big scam sign. Legitimate organizations will never use such tactics when dealing with their customers. Exercise extreme caution if someone calls you claiming a loved one has been in an accident and requires your financial support to get access to treatment. Always verify the information independently. For instance, try contacting your loved one directly.
- Calls from governmental agencies – some scammers will pose as representatives for governmental agencies to get your attention and make you more willing to cooperate. While their tone may sound compelling, remember that actual governmental agencies will always contact you through official means, not unsolicited phone calls.
- Asking for personal information – be extremely cautious if the caller asks for personal information, such as ID details, social security numbers, banking or credit card details, etc. Never share this information with anyone outside your circle of trust. Also, remember that legitimate institutions rarely ask you for this information over the phone.
- Poor connection – watch out for bad connections. A choppy call or weird background noise on the caller’s end can be a tipoff that you need to immediately end the call.
- Uninvited sales pitches – if the caller tries to sell you various products and you have no idea how they got your number, then it’s your sign that you could be dealing with a scam. Legitimate companies will not contact you out of the blue, and will at least offer information on how they got your number.
- Robocalls – robocalls offering unrealistic prizes or deals that are just too good to be true are a big red flag. Legitimate companies use actual human representatives to contact potential customers or announce wins.
Now that you know how to identify a spam caller, you may want to take more steps to safeguard your personal information online. Check out our guide on how to protect your privacy and security on Android. If you are an Apple user, we have your back with a dedicated article on how to secure your iPhone’s data and privacy.
Image credit: Freepik. All screenshots by Alexandra Arici.
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