5 scams that start with a telephone
There are a number of scams that we can be exposed to that begin with a simple telephone call, so we describe 5 of these and how to spot them before it’s too late.
It isn’t just when we’re online that we’re at risk of being scammed from the comfort of our homes. Scammers still use the comparatively old fashioned method of reaching out to us over the telephone.
Before we list our 5 examples, we want to first add some techniques that could be employed with any of these scams that will make them appear more legitimate.
The “silent disconnect” technique. Scammers know that many will be naturally sceptical of cold calling. Because of this, scammers often tell sceptical targets to hang up the call and call-back on a number the target knows is legitimate. This would normally be recommended but the scammer has a trick up their sleeve. Once the victim hangs up the phone, the scammer doesn’t, but uses a silencing button to make it appear that have hung up the phone. The victim then dials the legitimate number, but because the call hasn’t been disconnected, will get straight through back to the scammer who pretends to answer the phone again. It’s a devious tactic but one that can be easily avoided. Simply call the number on a different phone, like your mobile, or wait a number of minutes until the scammer gets disconnected.
Targeting Calls will seem legitimate if the person on the other end of the phone knows some personal details about you. However the problem with this assumption is that the Internet – specifically social media – have made it very easy for scammers to obtain certain nuggets of personal information about you. For example, a privacy flaw in Facebook allows anyone to pair names and mobile phone numbers for anyone who hasn’t disabled a privacy option. Scammers can also go through your rubbish to look for old letters from your bank with may contain not only your personal information but your account numbers too.
Number spoofing. Quite simply, software is available to make it appear that a call it coming from a phone number that it isn’t. Banks and other entities will have telephone numbers, and if a call appears to come from that telephone number, it will make it appear legitimate, when this is not always the case.
Technical Support Scam
We have discussed this scam elsewhere on our site, but to go over it again, the technical support scam is initiated by a scammer through a phone call. The victim picks up the phone and the scammers tells them that they work for “technical support” – often claiming to be from Microsoft or Apple. The scammer falsely informs the victim that their computer is infected with a virus or malware and that and that the victim needs to follow their instructions to rid their computer of the virus.
However the scammer actually instructs the victim to unwittingly install malware onto their computer. Most commonly this is fake antivirus that asks the victim to pay for a licence to remove the malware (which doesn’t exist) from their computer, all the while installing further malware onto the computer.
Avoiding this scam is simple. Don’t trust any cold call that claims your computer is infected with malware. Microsoft have already stated they don’t cold call customers in this manner.
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Security Breach Scam
The influence of one of the most popular online phishing scams on the Internet, this telephone call is designed to alarm victims into complying by informing them (falsely) that their bank account has been compromised and that the scammer needs to confirm the bank details with the target.
Of course this is just an excuse for the scammer to get the victim to relay their sensitive banking information to them over the phone.
Variants of this scam will ask targets to transfer money to other accounts (belonging to scammers.)
Banks don’t cold call customers to demand their personal information. If the call is really from the bank, they already have that information! And NEVER give your PIN or online banking login information over the phone under no circumstances.
Demands for payment.
In this case of this type of scam, a scammer will claim to be from a company the victim is associated with and claims that a bill is overdue and needs immediate payment. Often the scammer may be pretending to be from the victims phone supplier, or tax entities like the IRS.
At some point during the call the scammer will request all the banking details they need to make illegal withdrawals from the targets bank account.
Be sceptical of calls like this and always contact the company directly for confirmation.
SMS subscription scams
This scam is usually initiated on the Internet or via a text message as opposed to a phone call. The victim is directed to a website that asks them sign up to some kind of program, but the victims will overlook the small print (as we all often do) that claims subscribing will invoke a hefty monthly SMS plan where the victim receives text messages that each cost a substantial amount of money.
Often this is popular with those websites that offer ringtones or trashy SMS services like “text your name and your partners name to this number…” that end up costing the victim a fortune. In response to these scams, most phone providers now require an authorisation text before their phone number can be subscribed to a subscription. But remember, always read the small print on websites that require your phone number!
Donate with text messages
These scams – also initiated via text – ask people to donate money to a worthy cause by directing them to a website where they enter their charitable pledge. However the text is a scam designed to fool the recipient into donating money to scammers. The website is a spoof website.
Only donate money on websites that you trust.
Some universal tips
– Don’t trust cold calls.
– Don’t give your banking information, PIN number, passwords or other sensitive information away over the phone if you received an unexpected phone call
– Don’t visit websites or follow any instructions on the Internet from someone who has cold called you.
– Don’t trust someone just because they know your name or their phone number appears to be legitimate.
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