How to protect yourself from common phone scams

(KLTV) - When thinking of crimes, you  might first think of robberies or theft, but there's a more sneaky kind of crime that everyone should be on the alert for: phone scams. Sadly, we have heard from a number of trusting people who have been taken in by people trying to steal their information, money, and ultimately identity. It is important to learn more about these scam attempts in order to protect yourself from them. 

According to Consumer Reports, there are four very common phone scams to be on the lookout for.

The IRS Scam: This scam will pick up significantly as it gets closer to tax time, Consumer Reports (CR) says. They say scammers will call and threaten arrest, legal action, or even deportation, if you don't pay a fine. They may ask you to reveal personal information "for verification purposes," asking for things like your social security number, birthdate, or other information that you should never share on the phone. Identity thieves succeed when they are given this information. Legitimate companies and agencies will never ask you for these things on the telephone. Instead, they will send mail or certified letters.

The Jury Duty Scam: A voice on the other end of the phone will accuse you, in this scam, of failing to show up for jury duty. They may say they're a U.S. Marshall or other official, CR says. They will say that in order to prove you are not supposed to be at jury duty, you must give them your social security number, birthdate, or even send money on a prepaid card, or give them your credit or debit card number to "pay a fine." This is never a real circumstance. Do not give out these pieces of information on the telephone.

The Microsoft or Tech-support Scam: Consumer Reports says the caller in this scam will say that they are with tech support or Microsoft, etc., and that your computer has been reported as having problems. In order to fix it, they'll ask you to check your Windows event log viewer, which will indeed contain errors, but nothing you should actually be concerned about, according to CR. The caller will then say that you can log into a web service that will let him or her take control of your computer and "fix the issue." In reality, they will install malware that can steal your personal info, leading to identity theft.

The Government Grants Scam: A scammer will call you out of the blue to say you have been approved for free money from the government, a grant for education costs, home repairs, business expenses, or other. Of course, the scammer will say you need to submit a fee to collect this grant from the government, or you must share with them your social security number or bank account/credit card information for them to deposit the money to your accounts. They will, instead, help themselves to whatever money you have in your account. CR says that these folks often say they're from the "Federal Grants Administration," but there is no such agency.

Those are only four of the most common phone scams. Be aware of these and any others that sound similar.

Now, what should you do when faced with a call that seems like a scam?

• First, hang up immediately. Don't have a conversation, because that will lead to more calls.
  
• Trust your gut instinct. If it seems unlikely or too good to be true, it probably is. Don't engage or comply with their requests. Call the local office of the IRS, the court, or whomever they claim to be representing yourself at a number you look up, not at a number they give you, to verify any information given.
  
• If you are concerned that you really might have missed jury duty, hang up with the caller, and call your county's courthouse yourself to find out. Remember, police, U.S. Marshals, or other representatives of the court will not call you about jury duty or other official  business.
  
• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. You can call them at 877-382-4357, or visit them online at this link.

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