Scammers use phone calls to pretend to be trusted companies, government agencies, or family members to take advantage of you. If someone calls asking for money or personal information, hang up. If you think the caller might be telling the truth, call back using a phone number you know is genuine. Here are some common phone scams and tips to know.
Fake Caller ID
Do not believe your caller ID. It is easy for scammers to fake caller ID information, so the name and number you see are not always real. These phone scams often pretend to be a charity, bank, insurance company, health care provider, or debt collector. Hang up and do not share your personal or private information on any unexpected calls you receive.
Government Agencies
The IRS and other government agencies will not call you, they use mail for correspondence. If you receive a call that seems to be from a government agency, it is a scam. Hang up.
Family Members
Scammers will call pretending to be a grandchild or family member in need. They will mention some emergency that requires money, like being in jail, at a hospital, or stuck in a foreign country. They will often ask for you to rush and for nothing to be mentioned to their parents.
Do not send any money or share your account information with them. If you are unsure, hang up and call the parents or another friend who can verify the wellbeing of the family member.
Tech or Support Companies
Companies like Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, and other large tech companies will never call you. Tech support providers will not call you to let you know of a problem with your computer or device. If you receive a call seeming to be from a tech or support company, it is a scam. Do not follow their instructions to download software or provide them with any personal or payment information.