Scam calls are a reality that many of us will face at one time or another. At best, they’re annoying—but at worst, these calls are dangerous. Learning how to identify phone scams is a great way to avoid falling for them.
Look for a “Scam Likely” Alert
Your phone will sometimes warn you with a “Scam Likely” message, and this is the easiest way to determine whether the number calling is trying to extract information from you. The best thing you can do in these scenarios is to block these spam callers.
Several smartphones, including iPhones and Google Pixel devices, can now track potential scams. But depending on your device, you may only have access to this feature for certain languages and regions.
Beware of Certain Area Codes
If your smartphone doesn’t warn you of potential scam calls, you can use certain area codes as a pointer. Some of the most common scam area codes are 809, 506, 242, and 404. In these situations, the best thing to do is not to answer the phone and block the caller.
Neighbor spoofing, which is when a phone number similar to yours will call you, is also a sign of a potential scam. I never answer these calls either; if someone legitimate needs to contact me, they’ll leave a voicemail if I don’t answer.
One reason why social media can be positive is that others can easily warn of scams and other threats. If you’re unsure whether a number calling you is a scam, checking X (Twitter) is a good idea. Simply look for the phone number in your search bar. You can also type “[number] scam” for more refined results.
It’s also a good idea to look through certain accounts and see if you can find any warning signs, such as Friends Against Scams. Besides X, you can use Facebook to identify potential scams and protect yourself.
Use Websites and Apps to Search
You can use a free reverse phone lookup website or app to determine if the number calling you is a phone scam. Either note the number as it’s calling you or let it ring and search later.
Reverse phone lookups are sometimes difficult because they rely on numbers being listed. However, while this might not work, it’s still worth trying.
Already Picked Up the Phone? Here Are 5 Signs of a Scam
Sometimes, scam calls may slip through the net, and you could unknowingly answer to one. Fortunately, you can still determine if a phone number is trying to scam you by considering these red flags.
1. Asking for Sensitive Information
Customer support will never request your login information. They may sometimes ask answers to security questions, but never your password. In fact, you should never give out your password to anyone. Other sensitive information, such as your home address or date of birth, should also not be given to any stranger over the phone.
Also, remember that they probably wouldn’t be calling you if you did not call technical support. It’s very common for scammers to pretend they’re part of a support team, so you can be almost certain that this is a scam if you haven’t requested help.
2. Being Rude or Aggressive When You Confront Them
Scammers don’t have your best interests at heart, and some of them will become hostile if you don’t cooperate. If a caller resorts to insults or shouting, they are probably trying to scam you. Even on the off-chance that they were genuine, you wouldn’t want to work with this kind of person anyway.
Put down the phone and block the number. You can’t reason with these kinds of people, so trying to diffuse these situations is pointless. If the caller was impersonating a company, informing that business of this is a very good idea.
3. Legal Threats
Scammers will often resort to manipulation and scare tactics to try and get the information they want from you. One way they do this is through threatening legal action. For example, the caller might say that you owe money for your car payments and run through the “consequences” of not complying with their demands.
If you aren’t cooperative, a scammer might also threaten to report you to the police. They might not do this in an aggressive way, which is why detecting these kinds of scams can be challenging. You can always contact an actual entity if you’re concerned; they’ll clarify whether the call was legitimate.
4. Fake Promotions
Sorry, but you probably didn’t win millions of dollars in that contest you never entered. So, in these scenarios, you can be certain that the number calling is a scam.
Callers might also try to lure you with promotions such as discounts, and you should also ignore these kinds of calls. You can always verify whether these are genuine from an official store or manufacturer’s website. Note that scammers can use your social media profiles to customize their promotions, so it’s worth upping your privacy game.
5. Vague Information
If someone needs to contact you by phone, they will typically give as much information as possible. On the other hand, scammers might be vague. For example, if you’ve “won a competition,” the scammer might not reveal all the key details. Similarly, if you’re apparently in trouble for something, they might not explain the full reasons why.
Heed these warning signs and finish the call. You should also warn others so that they don’t potentially fall victim.
Phone call scams are always best avoided, and while our phones are much better at picking them up now, you’ll still need to be on high alert. Understanding area codes often used by scammers is one way to do this. Knowing whether you reached out to customer support is also a good idea, and so is determining whether the information you’ve received for an offer is legitimate enough.
