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Hang Up on Phone Scams

With everything that a smartphone can do these days, it’s easy to stay connected to friends and family. Now when your phone rings, you'll be tempted with free gift cards, free trips, and offers that are too good to be true... because they are. These phone scams are similar to the pop up ads you sometimes see online. Below are some steps to figure out if you are being targeted, and how to protect yourself from these 7-digit predators. 

Types of Scams

  1. You Owe the IRS money. This is the number one phone scam and nearly everyone has been a potential victim of this at one time or another. You may get a call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, or the Internal Revenue Service. These calls will tell you that you owe money in an unusual amount of back taxes and that you must pay them immediately or you will be sent to jail. They may also tell you that they are calling from a Police Department, usually from out of your area. Often times they will tell you that they only accept payment in the form of gift or reloadable cards. If you visit www.irs.gov.com, the official IRS website you will find the following statement: 

Note that the IRS does not:

  • Call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer. Generally, the IRS will first mail a bill to any taxpayer who owes taxes.
  • Demand that you pay taxes without the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe. You should also be advised of your rights as a taxpayer.
  • Threaten to bring in local police, immigration officers or other law-enforcement to have you arrested for not paying. The IRS also cannot revoke your driver’s license, business licenses, or immigration status. Threats like these are common tactics scam artists use to trick victims into buying into their schemes.
  1. You have won a free trip or prize. Whether its a cruise, gift cards, or some kind of vacation, these callers will tell you that you have been "specially selected" for a one of a kind promotion. These callers will go out of their way to make you feel that it is a once of a lifetime opportunity. The prize scammer will then tell you that they need to verify your information using a credit card or bank account. 
  2. A Nigerian Prince Needs Your Help. This classic scam can also come to your email. This Prince will tell you that he needs help to support his family or county. Or often times he will tell you that he needs to send you money, he just needs your bank account. Curiously enough, Nigeria does not have a royal family, so there’s no such thing as a Nigerian Prince.  
  3. They will ask you can you hear me? According to a Better Business Bureau report, this was the scam of 2017. This scam is an attempt to record your voice saying “yes” so that they can use a recording of you to voice authorizes fraudulent activities. The study states that there were 10,000 cases reported in 2017. 

When They Call You 

  1. Ask for a company name. Often times, when scammers call you, they will only identify themselves with a first or last name. (For example, this is Joan calling for John.) This non-formal approach to introducing themselves makes it seem like they are a friend of yours. When phone scammers have to give you a company name, those business names can be looked up on the Internet to see if they are really whom they say they are. And in the age of the Internet, everything can be checked and double-checked.
  2. Ask for more information or to call them back. When you are being scammed, they want to get to believe whatever they are trying to pull over on you as soon as possible. If you probe them for more information they will likely hang up. And if you tell them its not a good time you can go on the Internet to try to find more information. If they refuse to wait, they are probably afraid they will be found out.
  3. Say No Thank You or just hang up. It only takes a minute or two to realize you are talking to a scammer, and there's no reason to continue a conversation. These callers can sometimes call you at work if the number is listed publicly. Just say no thank you or hang up on them altogether. Be aware that they may call back from a different number. 

How to Fight Back

  1. Register for the National "Do Not Call" List. You will receive fewer telemarketer calls within 31 days. Visit www.dontnotcall.govor call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone number you want to be blocked. You can also use this number or website to make a complaint about getting called either from a real telemarketer or a pre-recorded message call, also known as robocalls. 
  2. Block the number. When you get a call from a scammer you can block the number so they won't be able to reach you. Use your phone settings to block the number on a cellphone. To block a specific number on a landline, dial *60 at the dial tone, and then dial the number you want to be blocked. If you have caller ID and want to block anonymous calls, dial *77 at the dial tone.

 

    With these tips in mind, everyone should keep their personal and financial information safe. Be sure to never give out your social security number, address, or any financial information. These phone scams are actually left over from a pre-internet era. Hopefully, if we are all careful, we can help others stay safe from these scams for good. 


    Posted by Sam DeLong

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