By JESSICA LUTGENS
Staff Writer
Phone scams have been around for a long time, and most people these days know that if someone calls offering something that sounds too good to be true, it is. Infamous lines like, “You’ve been specially selected (for this offer),” or offers to lower your debt, mortgage, etc., should be an instant red flag. But with the leaps and bounds technology has taken over the last decade, scammers have gotten more creative, causing more people to fall for these tricks.
One new scam that has affected seniors in our community involves caller ID spoofing technology, which allows scammers to impersonate the phone numbers of local business, neighbors, or even your own phone number.
According to the Better Business Bureau, these calls are believed to come from overseas, and scam artists are attempting to trick customers into thinking a legitimate or familiar business or person is calling in order to obtain personal information (Social Security number, credit card numbers, etc.).Once you answer, it’s a recording – various scams have been reported, commonly a recording that prompts you to verify your credit card number to lower interest rates.
Since many people reject calls from unfamiliar numbers, spoofing raises the chance of you answering the phone, and also increases your risk of identity theft. Scammers purchase lists of phone numbers and use spoofing technology, sometimes posing as your own phone number, which adds shock value and ensures the number isn’t blocked.
New Richland Chief of Police Scott Eads brought up another new scam – parties calling claiming a computer at the residence has downloaded illegal or unauthorized materials and offering to help fix the situation. As with most phone scammers, they will be persistent and may even call back. If they persist, recipients can contact the local police department.
“With technology the way it is,” Eads commented, “tracking this type of call is difficult; however, we can assist in hopefully getting it to stop.”
If you receive a call that you believe is a scam, the first thing to do is hang up, do not press any buttons, and do not call the scammer back. Try to get the name of the person and/or the “company” they’re with, and report it. Scams can be reported online or by phone to the FTC (1-888-382-1222), online or by phone to your local FBI office (763-569-8000), or online or by phone to the BBB (919-277-4222).
There are various websites dedicated to updating the public on new scams, common scams, how to avoid them, and more. Some good ones to look at for more in-depth information about the many different scams and new ones showing up around the country are www.scambusters.org and www.consumer.ftc.gov/scam-alerts.
Keeping your information safe is vital in this day and age, and it’s important to know how to protect yourself. Never give out any financial information, especially if you didn’t initiate the call. Never give out your bank account, credit card or Social Security numbers over the phone unless you’ve done your research and verified the caller.
The BBB also advises people not to rely on caller ID, and trust your instincts – if something doesn’t seem right to you, end the call.