Most scams are easy to spot, but some are more subtle. Telephone scams are unfortunately all too common and anybody could easily fall for somebody trying to sell them something amazing over the phone or letting them know that they’ve just won some money. But sadly, once you pass on your details to buy your amazing product or collect your winnings, you’ve given criminal access instead. That’s why it’s so important to be vigilant and do your research on anybody who is trying to get money from you on the phone.
Find Out Where They Are Calling From
The first step is to find out where the potential scammer is calling from. If they say that they are calling from a company, hang up and contact that company directly using the contact number listed on their website. Ask them if they have been calling people and describe the call you have had; if they say no, then you know that somebody is trying to scam you and you can block the number. It’s not uncommon for sales teams to use different phone numbers to the company’s main contact number so don’t be alarmed if the numbers are different.
Reverse Lookup
A phone number reverse lookup tool can be an excellent resource for locating and finding out more about somebody who you suspect is trying to scam you over the phone. All you need to do is enter the number that called you into Nuwber and you’ll be able to get the name, address, and other contact information associated with the owner of the number. If the name does not match up with what the person on the phone told you that they were called, or something else doesn’t seem quite right, you are probably being scammed and should again block the number as soon as possible.
Google Search
A quick Google search can often tell you everything that you need to know about a number that is calling you. Simply enter the number in Google and hit search and if it belongs to a company or somebody else calling in an official, legitimate capacity, chances are that records will appear for them. There are also dedicated sites where people can upload the numbers that they have had spam calls from before, so if one of these sites appears when you do a Google search, you know to avoid answering the phone if they call again.
Social Media
If a scammer isn’t very clever, they might have used the same number that they are calling you from on their social media profiles. If you enter the number that is calling you into Facebook and it is publicly associated with any profile, this will bring that profile up so that you can immediately see who the number belongs to. It might not always work since many Facebook users have their phone number information set to private, but it is always worth the try.
Call the Number Back
A quick way to see who is calling you is to let the call ring out and then call the number back. If somebody is calling you legitimately from a company, you will probably be put through to the company’s automated message system where you will be able to find out where the call was coming from.
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