This is how to protect yourself from scam calls
The Hidden Dangers of Cold Calls
Cold calls can be disruptive and annoying, often feeling like a waste of your precious time. While the most common concern is being lured into purchasing something unnecessary or overpriced, the reality is that the consequences can be far more severe.
The distinction between spam and scam calls is often unclear. The voice on the other end may present themselves as a salesperson or a survey conductor, but this could simply be a facade to extract sensitive personal information from you.
Your personal data could be exploited later for highly convincing scams or, worse, used to gain direct access to your accounts.
How to Safeguard Yourself from Scams
One common tactic used by scammers is to ask security questions that you might consider harmless: your mother’s maiden name, the name of your first pet, or your favorite school teacher. A hacker doesn’t need to be a coding genius; they just need to know these details to convince your mobile carrier to issue a SIM card in your name.
This reality can be particularly alarming if you’ve recently sold valuable assets or have a substantial amount of money saved for retirement. Scammers can easily obtain information about title or deed transfers through data brokers, making you a vulnerable target.
Fortunately, safeguarding yourself is simpler than it may seem. The key is to refuse to engage with unknown callers and never share even the smallest piece of information. By keeping your personal information private—potentially through a data removal service—you can drastically reduce your risk of becoming a victim of scams.
Tips for Handling Robocalls
When faced with a suspicious call, the most straightforward solution is to hang up immediately if anything seems off. But when should you take this action? If you receive a call unexpectedly and the caller asks for any personal information—like the last four digits of your Social Security number or your address—be wary. If the caller pressures you to stay on the line with promises of rewards or threats, it’s a clear sign that the call is fraudulent.
Understanding the Vulnerability of Older Adults
What if the call is legitimate? What if you accidentally hang up on someone who was genuinely trying to assist you? Scammers exploit these doubts to manipulate their victims. Older adults, in particular, are often more susceptible to these tactics. Studies indicate that seniors lose over $28 billion annually to scams, often because they are more likely to hold onto their initial impressions of trustworthiness, even when the caller’s behavior raises red flags.
Scammers typically start conversations with smooth, rehearsed dialogues to create a positive first impression. This makes it difficult for older individuals to challenge the caller’s intentions or to hang up mid-conversation.
Strategies for Identifying Legitimate Callers
So how can you differentiate between real callers and potential scammers? The truth is, it often doesn’t matter. Both scammers and legitimate callers understand the risks involved in such interactions. If you feel uncertain, consider the following strategies:
1. **Hang Up, Look Up, and Call Back:** If a call raises doubts, hang up and verify the organization by searching for its official contact details online. If the call was genuine, they will be able to redirect you to the original caller.
2. **Screen Unknown Calls:** Let unfamiliar numbers go to voicemail. Most legitimate callers will leave an important message if necessary.
3. **Register with the National Do Not Call Registry:** While this can help reduce legitimate telemarketing calls, it won’t eliminate scam calls. Many scammers ignore the registry and use number spoofing to bypass it.
4. **Install Spam Blocking Apps:** These applications can help filter out known spam numbers, significantly reducing unwanted calls.
5. **Don’t Share Personal Information:** Legitimate organizations will not ask for sensitive information if they have initiated the call.
6. **Be Wary of Urgency:** Scammers often create a false sense of urgency to cloud your judgment.
7. **Secure Your Voicemail:** Set a password for your voicemail to prevent unauthorized access.
8. **Beware of Caller ID Spoofing:** Just because a call appears to come from a local number doesn’t make it safe.
9. **Avoid Answering Questions That Require a “Yes”:** Scammers may record your affirmative response for fraudulent purposes.
10. **Consider Personal Data Removal Services:** These services can help minimize the amount of personal information available online, making you less of a target for scammers.
Stay Vigilant and Informed
If you ever feel uncertain during a call, don’t hesitate to hang up and take the time to verify the caller’s identity. By reducing the amount of personal information available online through data removal services, you can significantly lower the chances of receiving spam and scam calls.
Have you recently noticed an uptick in robocalls or scams? Share your experiences with us. For ongoing tech tips and security alerts, consider subscribing to our newsletter.
Stay safe, stay informed, and take control of your personal data!
