Telephone scams and their dangers
In the last few decades, we have entered the digital era. Technology has
taken power over almost everything. The scammers have also updated their
methods and techniques of scamming people. With the rise in the use of technology,
we have also seen a rise in technological criminality. Almost every year,
millions of scam calls are reported to authorities all over the world. This
means that telephonic scams are comparatively easier to pull off than other
physical ways of scamming. The main reason is that anonymity is secured
during telephonic scams. Telemarketing spam is the most common form of a telephone scam. Telemarketing calls are automated sales calls from companies
that are not authorized to call you.
Why telephone scams are so common?
The number one telephonic scam is the telemarketing spam calls. These
calls or messages attempt outright theft. Most people do not realize the damage
that these telemarketing phone calls make. They send numerous pre-recorded messages
or robocalls to random people asking for nonexistent debts. Sometimes they
also offer you tempting deals such as all expenses paid travel and get you to
give up your personal sensitive data. This way these telemarketing companies
have made millions of dollars. It is really easy to fool unaware and uneducated
people on the phone. The robocalls that they use as their most common strategy
are completely illegal.
How do telephone scams work?
Telephone scammers are really smart people. They have special caller
ID spoofing that allows them to mask their true location. The number that is
showed to you on your phone is often mistaken as local or legitimate in these
conditions so that there are more chances of you picking up. Surveys suggest
that more people would attend a call if the number is local or has their area
code.
Once you pick up that scam call, you will hear a robotic voice. They
use a pre-recorded robotic voice that claims to represent a brand, government
agency, or utility company. Some scam robotic calls also offer you tempting
deals such as free cruise ships or low-interest loans. Most people fall for the
cheap health insurance deal. Others are lured into this scam by telling them
that they won a lottery. Then the robotic voice asks you to press a certain key
to proceed forward.
Any such type of message in a phone call is a red flag. You should
refrain from engaging at all costs. When you fall for these tempting deals, you
are unknowingly leading towards a real-life scammer. Once you reach that
point, the scammer would threaten or pressure you to make the purchase. Some
scammers also ask for your personal information such as your social security number
or credit card number. Many people have lost tons of money in these scams. If
you want to save yourself from such a situation, then you should hang up as
soon as you realize that it is a shady robocall.
How to Report?
In case you have received the scam call and realized that it is from a
scammer, end it as soon as you can. Do not press the key at all. This is
because if you press the key, the scammer would get notified and they would not
stop calling you unless you take an action.
In order to be on the safe side, you must always analyze the unknown
number first. Do not just pick up the call right away. Wait till the call is
over, copy that number and use a reverse phone lookup service to know whose
number is it. The reverse phone lookup service would let you know if it was an
important call from someone that you already know or not. If so, you can always
recall that number.
Whoseno.com is a free reverse phone lookup service that provides
authentic results all over the world. It also has an option for you to report a
telemarketing scam call so that other people can get aware of the dangerous
numbers.
Conclusion
Living in a digital era requires more care and attention. You must be
aware that telemarketing scams can approach you at any time. In such a
situation, the best thing to do is to end the call immediately without pressing
any keys. Keep yourself and your loved ones safe from such digital robberies.