Scam telephone numbers: why looking one up won't keep you safe
Quick answer
Scam calls often come from spoofed numbers, so a number that looks local or official proves nothing and a block list can't keep up. If an unexpected caller asks for money or personal details, hang up and call the company or agency on a number you look up yourself.
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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.
How it works
The FCC explains that scammers falsify the information sent to your caller ID, which is called spoofing. Two versions are common. In neighbor spoofing, the call shows a number close to your own so you're more likely to pick up. In the other, the call shows the number of a company or agency you already trust.
If you answer, a scam script takes over. The caller or a recording wants your money or personal details, such as account numbers, a Social Security number or passwords, which can then be used for fraud.
Because the number on your screen can be faked, and scammers switch numbers often, a list of known scam numbers helps only a little. The FCC notes that scammers usually drop a number within hours, and sometimes the number they use belongs to an innocent person whose line was spoofed. That person can then get angry callbacks from strangers.
Some calls also use a button trick: a recording asks you to press a key to stop getting calls. The FCC says to just hang up, because pressing a button can mark your number as live.
Sources checked: fcc.gov, consumer.ftc.gov
Last verified against the official page:
Red flags
- A call from an unknown number that pushes you to act right now
- A caller who asks for account numbers, a Social Security number, passwords or other personal details you didn't expect to give
- A recording that tells you to press a button to stop the calls
- A caller who says they're from a company or agency and wants payment before you can check
- Questions that can be answered with just yes or no
- Caller ID showing a local number or a name you trust: it can be faked
Example message
Hello, this is the fraud department at your bank. We've seen suspicious activity on your account and need to confirm your details before we freeze it. Please call us back at [phone number] and have your account number ready.
What to do
- 1
Don't answer unknown numbers, or hang up straight away
The FCC advises not answering calls from unknown numbers. If you do pick up, hang up right away. Don't press buttons, and don't answer yes-or-no questions.
- 2
Never give out personal details on a call you didn't start
That covers account numbers, your Social Security number, passwords and your mother's maiden name. A real company won't mind you checking first.
- 3
Call back on a number you found yourself
If the caller says they're from a company or agency, hang up. Then call the number on your account statement or on the organization's own website. The FCC says you'll usually get something in writing before a legitimate call, especially if payment is involved.
- 4
Ask your phone company about call blocking
The FCC says phone companies may block robocalls by default and many offer blocking and labeling tools. Ask yours what it offers. Labels like 'scam likely' are a hint, not proof either way.
- 5
If you gave details or paid, go to IdentityTheft.gov
The FTC points people who think a scammer has their Social Security, credit card or bank account number to IdentityTheft.gov, which lists steps based on what was shared.
- 6
Set a password on your voicemail
The FCC notes some voicemail services let anyone in who appears to call from your own number. A spoofed call could then reach your messages.
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
Scammers need a working number and, to sound convincing, your name or a bit about you. People-search sites, data brokers and past breaches are places that information comes from, which is one reason your number keeps getting dialed.
You can't stop every call, but you can cut down the sources. See how people-search sites work and how to remove yourself. Serus finds the data brokers that list you, requests removal, and alerts you when your details turn up in a breach, so fewer scammers have your number to start with.
Frequently asked
Can I look up whether a phone number is a scam?
You can try, but it's unreliable. The FCC says scammers spoof numbers and switch them often, so the number that called you may be borrowed from someone innocent and may be gone within hours. Judge the call by what it asks for, not by the number.
Is spoofing a phone number illegal?
Under the Truth in Caller ID Act, FCC rules prohibit sending misleading caller ID information with the intent to defraud, cause harm or wrongly obtain something of value. The FCC says penalties can reach $10,000 per violation. Spoofing isn't always illegal: a doctor showing the office number is one example.
What if my own number is being spoofed?
The FCC says it's likely that your number was borrowed if people tell you it appeared on their caller ID. Don't answer unknown calls. If you do, explain your number is being spoofed. You can also record a voicemail greeting saying so, because scammers usually move to another number within hours.
Should I press a button to stop the calls?
No. The FCC says if a recording tells you to press a button to stop getting calls, just hang up. Scammers often use this trick to pick out people who respond.
Sources
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