It happens to most of us at some point or the other. Our landline or mobile phones have their days where the calls just keep coming, and there seems to be no end of them stopping. When you investigate your call log, it is inundated with either mysterious-looking numbers or numbers that cannot be traced.
Thankfully, there’s a way to find out what the source is and whether others are receiving similar calls. Unknown Calls has built a community hub where you can inquire about unfamiliar phone calls for free. Most of these calls are scam callers trying to sell you a product or steal information.
Nuisance scam calls could be the reason behind those calls! With the gift of the gab, these criminals know how to talk the talk and con innocent people out of money. Millions of people are hit in the pocket without even realizing that they have given their money away to a criminal.
We will help you spot phone scammers so that you can keep you, your family, and your money safe from crooks. Let’s explore more here:
Types of scam calls
There are some typical traps that phone scammers use when trying to mislead you. They are as follows:
1. Bank scams
This type of scam typically involves a caller that sounds professional, informing you that there is an issue with your bank account or card. They may dupe you into thinking that you are at risk and that your money needs transferring into another account. They may even ask you for your card details and PIN for security reasons. Be aware that banks will never ask you to disclose personal information like this over the telephone, and this is a common scam.
2. Computer scams
A phone call from a reputable company, like your telephone and internet provider, may claim that your computer has a virus and that someone has hacked into your account. They could dupe you into installing spyware software, which they will mask as being a security precaution. This software will spy on your internet activity, and if you have internet banking, then your scammer will have access without you even knowing.
3. Investment and pension scams
Have you had calls asking you to access your pension cash? Or a call about an ‘unmissable’ investment opportunity? The American state pension system, OASDI – Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program, would never have someone calling on their behalf to ask you for confidential information related to your pension and investments.
What should you do if you spot a scam call?
Unfortunately, seniors are frequently victims of scam calls, so it’s necessary to know how to manage them. Luckily, there are a few precautions you can take:
- Never disclose personal details. Never reveal private or financial information (for example, your banking details or PIN) even if the caller alleges to be a representative of your bank.
- Hang up. If you feel threatened, harassed, or pressurized into giving information, disconnect the call immediately. It may seem awkward to put the phone down on someone, but you have the right not to continue the call.
- Contact the organization. If you’re uncertain whether the caller is legitimate, you can always contact the bank or company they claim to represent. Make sure you obtain the company’s number yourself.
Final Thoughts
As long as there are phones, it seems that phone scammers will continue to take the risk of earning extra cash or personal details at the expense of innocent people. Therefore, it is important to recognize scam calls immediately – unless you’re expecting a call from an unknown number, don’t answer at all!
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Interesting related article: “What is a Con?“