Have you noticed more and more calls coming from familiar numbers? You’re not the only one. “Neighbor spoofing” is one of the newest – and more frustrating – methods employed by scammers to elicit information that can be used fraudulently. And, according to the FCC, it’s on the rise.
Robocallers and other cheap, accessible technology such as Voice over Internet Protocols (VoIP) alter the number that appears on your caller ID, displaying a phone number that often has the same area code and first three digits as your own. The idea is that these numbers could be calls from a neighbor, friend, local business, or school, and the target will be more likely to pick up.
Neighbor spoofing is prohibited under the Truth of Caller ID Act, and late last year the FCC allowed phone carriers to block spoofed numbers they have identified invalid or unable to send calls. However, the problem continues to grow. The number of automated calls topped over 30 billion last year, about 30 – 40% of which are likely scams.
The value of this technique for scammers can be two fold. When you pickup, the robocaller identifies your phone line as active. Your phone number can then be packaged with other active phone lines and sold to a new set of scammers to be used in future fraud attempts. Additionally, any number of phone scams might be deployed to access your personal identifiable information (PII) by identity thieves in an attempt to access your bank account, apply for new loans, or file a tax return on your behalf. These efforts tend to be most successful among seniors who are more sympathetic to phone callers. But, the constantly evolving scam tactics means that it’s important for everyone to be vigilant.
It may be not be possible to completely stop spoofed telephone calls, but there are a few ways to attempt to slow their progress and avoid future scams:
- Don’t pick up. This may sound impolite, but doing so can increase the number of calls you’ll receive in the future. If the call is important, the caller will leave a voicemail for you to return.
- Hang up. If you pick up a call that is silent or you begin to hear an unfamiliar message, don’t speak or press any buttons.
- Most government authorities or financial institutions will rarely call asking for specific information. Several scam tactics involve a threat of legal action or financial loss and will try to create more pressure by creating quick timelines for action. If the call seems suspicious in any way, hang up and call the number listed on your account statement or the organization’s website.
- Block the calls. Since each device is different, it’s important to identify which combination of tools is best for you. The FTC provides a summary of available technologies that includes apps, cloud-based services, and call-blocking devices for home phones. Some can help you develop a “black list” of numbers that are automatically blocked; others can help you create a “white list” that permits the call. Some of these services access your phone’s contacts, so be sure to familiarize yourself beforehand with the associated privacy policy.
- Monitor your digits on the Dark Web. Alumni ID Theft Protection includes an identity monitoring service that tracks personal information, including your phone number, for suspicious activity in the digital black market where criminals buy and sell stolen data.
- Register and Report. The FTC’s Do Not Call Registry is designed to keep your number off of legitimate telemarketers’ lists, so it won’t stop you from receiving fraudulent calls. But, it can help you to better identify them if your regular call volume is lower. You can also file a complaint with the FTC or the FCC, both of which provide valuable information for the agencies to step up their fight against fraudulent calls.
Neighbor spoofing may be more of a nuisance if you don’t answer, but all it takes is once.
For more information about how The Alumni Insurance Program can help keep your personal data safe, visit www.TheAIP.com.
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