Beware of Fraud and Scams (2024)

FAQs

What if I accidentally answered an unknown number? ›

If you do answer a call from an unknown number accidentally, the best course of action is to hang up immediately. If the call is legitimate, such as a call for a job interview, or from your doctor, for example, they can leave a message.

You should avoid answering or interacting with any unsolicited phone calls you are receiving. It is most likely a scam call trying to trick you into giving up your personal information.

By responding “yes,” people notify robo-callers that their number is an active telephone number that can be sold to other telemarketers for a higher price. This then leads to more unwanted calls.

If you think scammers are targeting you, hang up before they can record your voice or get any information. As a best practice, don't answer unknown numbers. Don't respond — even by pressing a number or saying “yes.” Abiding by these simple commands shows spammers that you're more likely to respond to their ploys.

When you answer unknown calls, it shows scammers that your number is active. This can lead to more scam calls as your number gets shared or sold to other scammers. You could become a victim of identity theft. Scammers try to get personal information from you, like your name or address.

Phone calls are unlikely to be the direct source of phone hacks. But text messages can contain malware, and both calls and texts can be used to launch phishing attacks or other scams to trick you into giving up sensitive information, transferring money, or downloading viruses or spyware.

By calling back a spam number, you could be targeted with scam calls and become a victim of AI voice scams.

Refusal to implement internal countermeasures. Skipping approval steps. Living a lifestyle above their means or lavishing gifts on colleagues. Failing to keep appropriate or accurate records/receipts.

A legitimate Fraud Center will NEVER ask you to give them your information or to ignore alert messages. Instead you will receive a text or call verifying a specific purchase, whether you made that purchase or not. Depending on your answer, you will be prompted as to what action to take if any.

It's better to ignore spam calls. When you decline a call, it can alert the spammer that your phone number is active, prompting them to call you again. If you use a call-blocking tool that uses caller ID, you should never answer calls labelled as spam.

What happens if you press 2 on a spam call? ›

Robocalls sometimes prompt you to take action, such as “press 1 to speak to a live representative” or “press 2 to unsubscribe” and so on. By following instructions, you confirm to the robocallers that you are a potential victim and invite further robocalls. Try to avoid taking any action.

Use of high-pressure sales tactics and “limited-time” offers. Reluctance to answer questions about the business or the offer. Request that you “confirm your personal information” Request payment by means other than credit card –including cash, gift card, wire transfer or private courier.

The scammer might record your “Yes” response to voice-authorize charges to an account. Or they might use it as proof of your opt-in for the call in the first place. Or the con might go even further by engaging you to get a voice sample so they can clone your voice.

Telemarketers must end the call within 10 seconds if the called party asks to end the call. Telemarketers must remove a called party from their telephone list for a year if the called party indicates they do not want to be called again by the caller.

Things You Should Know

Ignore calls from 3-digit international area codes that are likely to be scams, including 232, 268, 284, 473, 664, 649, 767, 809, 829, 849, and 876. Be wary of calls from unknown numbers with your own area code. These may be international caller ID spoof scams that appear local.

Your phone can't be hacked just with a regular call — but phone hackers can use fake text messages to infect your phone, and suspicious no caller ID calls may be part of a wider ploy to access your device.

Don't reply to text messages from unknown numbers.

It could lead to a scam. Delete and report them using your phone's “report junk” option or forwarding unwanted texts to 7726 (SPAM) and unwanted emails to your email provider.

Telemarketers and scammers use bots and autodialers to go through massive call sheets. When you answer one of these calls, the dialer switches to a live person. Fraudsters may then mark you down as someone who answers calls from unknown numbers. Your phone bill could go through the roof.

“How to call back no caller ID” is a popular search, and there's an easy answer. To call back the last private number that called you – whether you answered it or not -- simply dial *69 and it will dial it back. It will also unmask the number, if it's been blocked from caller ID.