Imagine you get a call asking you to update your Visa card information. You quickly reply that you’ve never had a Visa card. The caller on the other end tries to get you to think they were “technically” correct by stating it’s for your “backup” card. Of course, you don’t have a backup card.
They then try to get you to “verify your identity” with a number of common (and not-so-common) personal details. You start realizing that something’s wrong. Why would anyone ask you for personal information for a card you don’t own? You understand that you’re being scammed. However, this isn’t set in stone for everyone. Many people are gullible, which makes it a piece of cake for con artists to trick them.
Scammers have a ton of tricks up their sleeves. Even worse, they’re overly persistent. Among the channels they use to perpetrate their crimes, phone calls take the cake. And in most cases, when a person falls victim to them, the police can’t do anything about it. As Nicky Morgan said in her interview with The Times, “The police do something if you get mugged — but not scammed”. This happens primarily because scam calls come from overseas and are hard to trace.
Given this alarming statement, you want to be on the lookout for scam alerts when on the phone with a random stranger. Below are the four common warning signs in no particular order.
Sign #1: Threatening Calls
This is one of the oldest and cheapest tricks in the book. It relies on the power of fear, as humans generally have a hard time acting rationally when under threat. A scammer calls you to report that you’re in trouble. The caller ID may even show a government agency, when in reality, it’s a tax fraudster posing as the IRS.
They tell you that you owe the government a certain sum for overdue taxes. They then demand payment right away, often via gift cards, prepaid cards, or virtual currencies such as Bitcoin. Perhaps you owe the IRS, but this isn’t the real IRS calling.
Scared, you own up, but then you’re confused as to how a $500 debt, for example, suddenly turned into $7,000. “Well, it is what it is, man. You just gotta pay,” the fake agent replies. Long story short, you both strike a deal for $3,500, or worse, give the individual your banking details—and the rest is history.
Scams like this aren’t unheard of, and it’s your job to make sure you don’t become a victim. So, when a random stranger claims to be calling from a certain organization and brings up a debt-related storyline, hang up. If you’re hesitant, reverse search the person’s number to be sure they’re who they claim to be.
Sign #2: The Too-Good-To-Be-Real Deals
“Congratulations! You’ve been selected for an all-expenses-paid cruise. We can’t wait to meet you onboard!” This is what a “real” travel company may sound like in the early stages of its sales pitch to you. The only difference here is that it’s a scammer who cold-calls you from a local number that claims to be a part of a big travel company.
Excited about the news and not verifying its authenticity, you give the scammer your personal information and even make a “low-fee” payment for a cooked-up clause. Later, you come to your senses and start looking into why the trip is delayed. And of course, you can’t reach the company that never existed. Well, guess what? You’ve been scammed.
Here’s the truth: If it sounds too good to be true, then there’s definitely something wrong. Don’t get fooled by false promises, especially when the stakes are high. If the offer seems legit, double-check the information on the company’s official website or call them directly.
Sign #3: An Initial Robocall or a Pause When You Pick Up
We all know how annoying automated phone calls are. To a certain extent, they’re illegal as many states have opted to stop their use by telemarketers. Even the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld and strengthened the law banning robocalls, as reported by Reuters.
So, if you didn’t request or grant permission to receive such calls, don’t pick up—a scammer might just be onto you. In some cases, it might start off as a robocall before your call is connected to a fraudster who will proceed to pitch a sales deal to you.
Alternatively, you might detect a noticeable long pause once you answer the call. It’s the automated system trying to connect you to the scammer.
In either situation, hang up the phone. Don’t let it sprout into a conversation.
Sign #4: A Suspicious Call From a Self-Proclaimed Family Member or Colleague
Have you ever received a call from someone who claimed to be your family member or colleague but couldn’t provide enough details to prove it? That person could be a scammer in disguise. In highly sophisticated scams, the fraudster gathers sufficient intel on the “bait” and clones their relatives’ or colleagues’ voices using deepfake technology.
It’s known as a “Grandparent scam,” as mostly elderly people are targeted with such schemes. Many unsuspecting victims fall prey to it every day, especially around the holiday season. You may pick up and think it’s your long-lost cousin, sister, or grandchild. The scammer who pretends to be them knows it’s a vulnerable and viable moment to gain access to your life and, most importantly, your information.
You should be wary of such calls. If it’s been long since you last spoke with that friend or family member, hang up and call them back on their real phone number to ask if they tried to reach out to you. If they didn’t, then there’s a high chance that the scammer wanted to steal your money.
Conclusion
Now that you’re aware of the four major signs of phone scams, you can spot them from a mile away and avoid becoming a victim. There’s no doubt that scammers are becoming cleverer every day, and you never know when one might strike. To be on the safe side, stay vigilant at all times.
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