Phone call scams are one of the most annoying things to deal with, especially in today’s age, where our phones are almost always with us, and constant calls can be distracting. However, besides being annoying, phone call scams may result in vulnerable populations, like the elderly, at risk of losing money or having their important data compromised.
Our article gives you more information on understanding scam phone calls and how to find scammer phone numbers to verify a call’s source.
Understanding Scam Phone Calls
Scam phone calls are designed to gain personal information from their victim or access their victim’s money. Scammers may present themselves as government agents, banks, or credit card agencies. They will say almost anything to get their victim to reveal important financial information, social security numbers, or credit card details. These scams are pervasive, and they typically target English-speaking individuals, though scam phone calls are designed to trick individuals from all walks of life.
Common phone call scams that you should look out for include:
- Tech support scams
- Amazon phone scams
- Bank fraud scams
- IRS impersonators
- Social Security scams
- Fake donation scams
- Healthcare or family emergency phone scams
This isn’t a comprehensive list, and it’s important to stay on guard when it comes to phone calls from numbers you don’t recognize. So if someone is pushing you for personal information, wants your financial details, offers you items that seem too good to be true, or is attempting to scare you into handing over information, the call is likely a scam.
Finding Scammer Phone Numbers
Finding scammer phone numbers is important if you want to ensure that the number calling you is legitimate. It can also help you verify whether or not a number is valid before you call them back, potentially stopping you from calling back a scammer and accidentally becoming a victim of whatever phone call scam they are running.
Research With Government Agencies
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) both provide consumer advice and tips on avoiding phone scams. Navigating these websites can help direct you to areas to report scammer phone numbers as you encounter them or even research potential scammer numbers with lists provided on their websites. All of the resources these two government agencies provide go a long way to helping you find scammer phone numbers and stopping scammers from calling your phone.
Use Google Searches
Google searches are one of the best ways to locate whether or not a phone number calling you is a scammer, and they can be performed fairly easily before you ever answer a suspicious phone call. For this method to work, simply type the phone number you are wondering about into the Google search bar (or another search engine if you prefer). Then, review the results and see if the number is connected to web pages that indicate it is a scam or a fraud number.
Make sure that you are careful when clicking on any web pages associated with the phone number, as these websites may be scams themselves. Always maintain caution when using internet browsers to research suspicious phone numbers.
Check a Reverse Phone Search Tool
A reverse phone search tool, like the one you can find on Information.com, is an online tool that helps you identify the owner of a specific phone number. All you have to do to use this type of tool is input the phone number you are researching into the search bar. The search will review publicly available records and other online information to show you the owner of the phone number.
Reverse phone search tools can easily be used to find scammer numbers because the number will likely not have a legitimate owner, or you may not find any information in your search at all. Both of these factors indicate that the phone number is suspicious and should be avoided.
Protecting Yourself From Phone Scams
When it comes to phone scams, it helps to understand how to protect yourself from falling victim to the many frauds that scammers conduct. In addition to finding scammer phone numbers, the following steps can help protect you from accidentally answering a scam phone call:
- Research phone numbers you don’t recognize before answering or returning calls from them.
- Never give out your personal details, such as financial or social security information over the phone.
- Never provide website login details over the phone.
- If a caller says they are from a government agency, healthcare facility, or donation fund, hang up and call the agency directly using their verified phone number before proceeding.
- Regularly review online bank accounts and credit card statements to ensure your information hasn’t accidentally been compromised.
- Report phone scams to authorities immediately, especially if you’ve lost money or personal information.
Always be on guard when answering phone calls from numbers you don’t recognize, and if you do start to recognize the signs of a scam while on a phone call, hang up immediately and block the number if possible. It’s always better to err on the side of caution than accidentally lose your money or personal information to one of these predatory phone call scams.