Why You Should Not Answer Your Phone
That’s right! We said do NOT answer your phone!
There have been way too many issues lately of innocent yet unknowledgeable people getting scammed out of their hard-earned money.
The first thing to know with your phone is to NOT answer the phone if you DO NOT KNOW who is calling.
If you do NOT recognize the phone number calling you, then DO NOT ANSWER it!
As simple as that!
There are too many bots calling to see which numbers are active, landlines, mobile phones, and who is gullible enough to answer.
Further, scammers call attempting to sound very official and authoritative to get you to comply with their objective.
Too many people fall for this.
We ourselves have received repeated calls over multiple days from various phone numbers that call over and over. We give them about a week to leave a message.
That time frame may be too gracious. Regardless, after one week, if they do not leave a message and are not legit, then they get reported as SPAM and are blocked.
The point is if they are truly a business and there is a true time frame or matter that needs to truly beg addressed, they will conduct business the proper way and leave a message.
In today’s digital age, scams have become more prevalent than ever before, and phone scams are no exception. One of the most common ways that scammers try to get access to your personal information or money is by calling you from a phone number that you do not recognize.
Let’s discuss how phone numbers you do not recognize could be a scam, and what you can do to protect yourself.
One of the most popular tactics used by scammers is to impersonate a trusted individual or organization. For example, they might pretend to be from a bank, a government agency, or even a family member in need of financial assistance. They use sophisticated methods to make their call seem genuine, such as spoofing the caller ID to make it look like it is coming from a legitimate source.
Another way scammers try to get your information is by posing as a customer service representative for a well-known company. They might claim that there is an issue with your account or that you have won a prize, and ask for your personal information or credit card details to resolve the issue or claim your prize.
Scammers may also use fear or urgency to try to get you to hand over your information. For example, they might tell you that there is a problem with your taxes and that you need to pay immediately, or that your bank account has been compromised and that you need to provide your login details right away.
One of the most dangerous types of phone scams is the “tech support” scam. In this scam, the caller pretends to be from a well-known tech company like Microsoft or Apple and claims that there is a problem with your computer. They may ask you to download software or provide them with remote access to your computer, allowing them to steal your personal information or install malware.
So, how can you protect yourself from these phone scams? One of the simplest things you can do is to never give out personal information over the phone. If a caller asks for your social security number, credit card details, or any other sensitive information, hang up immediately. It’s also a good idea to be wary of unexpected calls, particularly if the caller claims to be from a well-known organization.
If you do receive a call from a number you do not recognize, let it go to voicemail. If the call is important, the caller will likely leave a message, and you can return the call if necessary. If the call is a scam, the caller will likely not leave a message, and you can simply ignore the call.
Another way to protect yourself is to use call blocking and caller ID features on your phone. Most smartphones have the ability to block specific numbers, so if you receive a call from a scammer, you can block that number and prevent them from calling you again. Caller ID features can also help you identify calls from known scammers and avoid them.
It’s important to remember that scammers are constantly coming up with new tactics to try to get access to your information or money. If you ever feel unsure about a call you receive, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and hang up. If you do fall victim to a phone scam, report it to the relevant authorities immediately, and take steps to protect your personal information, such as changing your passwords or canceling credit cards.
In conclusion, phone numbers you do not recognize can be a scam, and it’s important to take steps to protect yourself. By being aware of common phone scams and using the tools available to you, such as caller ID and call blocking, you can avoid falling victim to these fraudulent schemes. Remember, if a call seems too good to be true or too urgent, it’s likely a scam, so always be cautious and protect your personal information.
The primary method of ensuring YOU do not receive such illegitimate calls is by making sure you are registered on the DO NOT CALL registry.
You can add your numbers to the Do Not Call Registry here:
You are able to enter 3 phone numbers at a time with an email account for confirmation.
Once you have completed that step, you want to check periodically to ensure you are on the DO NOT CALL List.
This will ensure peace of mind and you should experience less scammers and bots attempting to waste your time.
Here are some important points to keep in mind when it comes to not answering phone calls from numbers you do not recognize:
- It could be a scam: Scammers often use unknown or fake numbers to trick people into giving away personal information or money. They may pose as a government agency, a bank, a charity, or even a family member in need.
- It is okay to let it go to voicemail: If the call is important, the caller will likely leave a message. By checking the voicemail, you can get a sense of whether the call was legitimate or not.
- Do not engage with unknown callers: If you do answer a call from an unknown number and it turns out to be a scam, do not engage with the caller or give them any personal information. Hang up and block the number.
- Use caller ID and call blocking: Many smartphones have caller ID features that can help identify unknown numbers. You can also use call blocking to prevent calls from specific numbers.
- Be cautious of callback scams: Some scammers will call and hang up after one ring, hoping that you will call back out of curiosity. However, these callback scams can result in unexpected charges on your phone bill.
In summary, not answering phone calls from numbers you do not recognize is a good practice to protect yourself from scams and unwanted calls. If the call is important, the caller will likely leave a message, and you can use caller ID and call blocking to manage unwanted calls.
Share this information with those you care about and those whom you are aware they are enduring the same events.
Together, you can prevent unwanted calls.
Cheers!