HOUSTON — You can fall victim to a phone scam even if you never answer the phone. Through “phone spoofing," criminals are able to use your phone number without your knowledge to prey on other victims.
Leah Napoliello with the Better Business Bureau says more people are conned out of money when the call comes from a local number.
“The scammers do that to gain people’s trust. They feel like if you see a familiar number coming into your phone, you’re going to be more apt to respond to it and give out information,” Napoliello said.
You’ll know you’re a victim of phone spoofing if you start getting angry phone calls or texts from strangers accusing you of spamming them.
“Something you can do in this situation is to contact your mobile carrier and let them know you’ve been the victim of this kind of identity theft,” Napoliello said.
Here are some other tips from the BBB:
- Avoid answering calls from phone numbers you don’t recognize, even if they appear to be local. If it’s important, the caller will leave a message.
- If your own phone number is used in a caller ID spoof call, you may receive calls and messages from people asking why you called them in the first place. This can lead to a lot of confusion between the two parties, but knowing your own number can be used by scammers may help explain the situation.
- Be aware that phone numbers of local businesses, including doctor’s offices and/or insurance agents, may appear to be calling you. If you’re not certain whether the call is legitimate or a spoof, hang up and dial the known phone number for the contact to verify the communication, especially if personal and/or financial information is being requested.
- There are call-blocking apps that may help decrease the amount of spam calls, including those using a spoof caller ID. Your phone carrier may also provide a similar service or offer advice.
- Make sure your phone number is on the National Do Not Call Registry. Though it is unlikely to prevent most phone scam calls, it will help to reduce calls received from legitimate telemarketers, which can be helpful in screening fraudulent calls.