Scam calls from unknown or foreign numbers: what to do
Quick answer
You can't tell where a scam call comes from by the number. The FTC says scammers change the number on your caller ID. If a caller pushes you to pay, share a code or act now, hang up, block the number and report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Reviewed by Anthon Wansland
Head of Product & Co-Founder
Serus is a privacy company with paid tools to find and remove your personal data. This page is free and based on official sources.
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How it works
People often search for a list of scam numbers or ask whether a call from a certain country is a scam. The caller ID doesn't settle that. The FTC says scammers use technology to change the number that appears on your caller ID, so the name and number you see might not be real.
The script is usually one of these. The caller says they're from an organization you know: the government, a tech company, a utility, a charity. They say there's a problem (you owe money, there's a virus on your computer, your account needs verifying) or a prize (you won a lottery and must pay a fee).
Then the pressure. They tell you not to hang up, threaten arrest or a lawsuit, and say you must act now. The ask is money by an odd route (cryptocurrency, wire transfer, payment app or gift card) or personal details such as a Social Security, bank account or card number.
Sources checked: consumer.ftc.gov
Last verified against the official page:
Red flags
- The caller says they're from a company or agency you know and you didn't expect the call
- They say there's a problem with an account, a virus on your computer or money you owe
- They tell you not to hang up or to keep the call secret
- They want payment by gift card, crypto, wire transfer or payment app
- They ask for your Social Security, bank or card number
- The number looks local or official: caller ID can be faked
Example message
"This is the fraud department. There is suspicious activity on your account. Don't hang up. Call us back on [phone number] and have your card ready so we can verify you."
What to do
- 1
If you just got the call
Hang up. Don't call back the number from your caller ID or one the caller gave you. If you think the call might be real, look up the company's number yourself on its website.
- 2
Block the number and filter calls
Block it on your phone, and use your carrier's and phone's call and text filtering. New numbers will keep coming, so blocking helps but doesn't end it.
- 3
If you gave personal or financial information
Call your bank or card issuer on the number on your card. Change passwords for accounts the caller mentioned. Consider a credit freeze if you gave your Social Security number.
- 4
If you paid
Contact your bank, card issuer or payment app straight away and say it was a scam. If you paid with a gift card, tell the card company.
- 5
Tell someone you trust
The FTC suggests talking it through with a friend or family member before you do anything else. It helps you spot the scam.
- 6
Report it
Report the call at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Include the number, even though it may be spoofed.
Report it
Check if your details are exposed with Serus
Scammers find your number and address on data brokers and people-search sites. Serus removes them.
Why you got it
Scam callers dial from lists of phone numbers. Those lists come from data brokers, people-search sites and breaches, where your number sits next to your name and address. Serus finds the data brokers and people-search sites that list you and removes your info from them, and alerts you when your details show up in a breach, so fewer scammers can reach you. See our guide to people-search sites.
Frequently asked
Can I tell where a scam call comes from?
Not from the number. The FTC says scammers change the number that shows on caller ID.
Is there a list of scammer numbers?
No official list exists that we can cite, and numbers change often. Judge the call by what it asks for, not the number.
Should I call the number back?
No. The FTC advises against calling a number from the caller or your caller ID. Look up the company's real number yourself.
What payments are a sign of a scam?
Crypto, wire transfers, payment apps and gift cards. The FTC says anyone who insists on these is a scammer.
Sources
- How To Avoid a Scam · consumer.ftc.gov
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