Next time your phone rings and you don't recognize the number of the caller, you might want to wait and see if they leave a message. there's a relatively new scam out there and it's called 'Caller ID Spoofing.'

Here's how it works and some advice from The Better Business Bureau.

It's called caller ID spoofing and it's aimed at tricking you into answering a call from someone likely in a foreign country.
If you answer the call, you'll probably find that it's someone wanting to sell you aluminum siding for your brick house. Many times, these calls are from foreign countries and at the very best could leave you with a lot of charges on your phone bill.
Some of the calls may be to sell a legitimate product, but others can run the gamut of scam games.
there's always the old trick of having you share some personal information and that could lead to really big problems.
Carmen Million of the BBB shares some safety measures to prevent just this kind of thing from happening.

BBB Alert: Local Consumers Targets of Caller ID Spoofing

 

Local consumers may think they're answering a local call when a phone number with a local area code pops up on their caller ID.

The robocalls most often originate from telemarketers overseas who disguise their number as local or similar to the consumers' own to trick them into answering their phones. This scam is known as "Caller ID Spoofing". The callers advertise lower credit card interest rates and ask for the recipient's credit card number, states Carmen Million, President of Better Business Bureau Serving SWLA.

The BBB said it has received numerous calls within the last few days from consumers around the state who complained about getting such calls. Similar complaints have been recorded across the country.

"Con artists use software and devices to dial over the Internet and can then make any business name and phone number appears on the caller ID," said Million. "This hijacking scheme allows callers to attempt to gain your trust, as well as your important personal or financial information."

Robocalls are illegal and telemarketers who don't have permission from the consumer in writing to make such calls can face penalties of up to $10,000 per call, the BBB said.

Here are some tips you can take to avoid becoming a victim of credit card fraud or identity theft through robocalls and/or Caller ID Spoofing:

  • Never give out financial information, including bank account, credit card or social security numbers over the phone unless you initiated the call.
  • Don't rely on caller ID. Scammers can spoof the number to make it look like the call is coming from a legitimate business.
  • Hang up. Don't press any buttons to speak to an operator or to unsubscribe. Responding will only show the scammers that they have a live, working number. This can lead to even more calls from other telemarketers.
  • Block the phone number in your cell phone settings or ask your provider to block the number. (Make sure to ask the provider whether the company charges for this service.)
  • Sign up for the national do-not-call registry by calling (888) 382-1222 from the number you wish to register, or register for the do-not-call list online.

If you feel you have been a victim of "Caller ID Spoofing", you can file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission by phone at 1-888-CALL-FCC or by email at www.fcc.gov/complaints.

 

 

 

BBB Alert: Local Consumers Targets of Caller ID Spoofing

 

Local consumers may think they're answering a local call when a phone number with a local area code pops up on their caller ID.

The robocalls most often originate from telemarketers overseas who disguise their number as local or similar to the consumers' own to trick them into answering their phones. This scam is known as "Caller ID Spoofing". The callers advertise lower credit card interest rates and ask for the recipient's credit card number, states Carmen Million, President of Better Business Bureau Serving SWLA.

The BBB said it has received numerous calls within the last few days from consumers around the state who complained about getting such calls. Similar complaints have been recorded across the country.

"Con artists use software and devices to dial over the Internet and can then make any business name and phone number appears on the caller ID," said Million. "This hijacking scheme allows callers to attempt to gain your trust, as well as your important personal or financial information."

Robocalls are illegal and telemarketers who don't have permission from the consumer in writing to make such calls can face penalties of up to $10,000 per call, the BBB said.

Here are some tips you can take to avoid becoming a victim of credit card fraud or identity theft through robocalls and/or Caller ID Spoofing:

  • Never give out financial information, including bank account, credit card or social security numbers over the phone unless you initiated the call.
  • Don't rely on caller ID. Scammers can spoof the number to make it look like the call is coming from a legitimate business.
  • Hang up. Don't press any buttons to speak to an operator or to unsubscribe. Responding will only show the scammers that they have a live, working number. This can lead to even more calls from other telemarketers.
  • Block the phone number in your cell phone settings or ask your provider to block the number. (Make sure to ask the provider whether the company charges for this service.)
  • Sign up for the national do-not-call registry by calling (888) 382-1222 from the number you wish to register, or register for the do-not-call list online.

If you feel you have been a victim of "Caller ID Spoofing", you can file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission by phone at 1-888-CALL-FCC or by email at www.fcc.gov/complaints.

 

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