Office of Consumer Protection

When your phone rings and it looks like a local call, you may be more likely to answer. Scammers count on this and can easily fake caller ID numbers. They even can match the first six digits of your own number, which is called “neighbor spoofing.” The urge to answer can be tough to resist, since you might worry it’s a neighbor who needs help, or the school nurse.

What happens

If you answer, the scammer may employ social engineering tactics in an attempt to steal your money or valuable information. These tactics can range from simple requests for you to hit a button on your phone, to larger requests, such as asking for your Social Security number. While the latter may seem easily avoidable, the tactics scammers employ can be so subtle or deceiving that individuals do not question their legitimacy or authority.

Prevent spoofing calls

Call blocking services that block or flag unwanted calls can help. Some are free and others cost money.

You also can register your number with the Do Not Call Registry. The Do Not Call Registry is designed to stop sales calls from legitimate companies, so it won’t stop calls from scammers.

Be skeptical of generic greetings, such as ones that address you with “Dear customer,” as opposed to your real name.

Avoid answering unknown numbers, as scam callers will regularly use unknown numbers.

Pay attention to the caller’s tone of voice, and avoid giving information to a caller who seems pushy or demanding. This is a tactic employed by scammers to make matters appear urgent, thereby manipulating the human agency to react.

Be wary of the reason a caller gives you for needing your personal information. If the caller says they need it for an event you had never previously heard of, hang up immediately.

Don’t stay on the phone line. Trust your gut if you have any concerns regarding the legitimacy of the caller. Hang up immediately.

Tips about spoofing

• Don’t answer calls from unknown numbers. If you do, hang up immediately.
• Don’t hit any buttons. If the caller asks you to, hang up immediately.
• Don’t answer any questions, especially ones regarding your personal information.
• Never reveal personal information, such as your Social Security number, mother’s maiden name, passwords, or credit card numbers.
• Don’t assume they are who they say they are. If you receive a call from somebody representing a company or a government agency, hang up and call back the phone number on the company or agency’s website. This will help verify the caller.
• Don’t put your trust into the caller until you can assure they are who they say they are.
• Don’t panic. Social engineers will see this as vulnerability and try harder in their attempts to manipulate you into revealing personal information.
• Set a password for your voicemail account. A scammer could hack into your voicemail if it is not properly secured with a password.

What to do if you encounter spoofing

You also can help by reporting unwanted calls. We take the phone numbers you report and release them to the public each business day. This helps phone carriers and other partners that are working on call blocking solutions. Your reports also help law enforcement identify the people behind illegal calls.

Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009

Under the Truth in Caller ID Act, FCC rules prohibit anyone from transmitting misleading or inaccurate caller ID information with the intent to defraud, cause harm or wrongly obtain anything of value. Anyone who is illegally spoofing can face penalties of up to $10,000 for each violation.

There are legal uses for spoofing, which include any instance that does not intend to cause harm, defraud, or wrongly obtain anything of value. For example, when a delivery service or doctorʻs office calls a person from their personal phone and display the office number, or a business displays its toll-free call-back number.