How Fake Phone Numbers are Spoofed
Scammers and cybercriminals have gotten quite clever when it comes to getting your attention. With technology advancing so quickly, it becomes challenging keeping up with the latest scam and how it is masked.
Cyber scammers have turned to calling and text messaging your phone numbers to get information from you. They have become quite savvy when it comes to tricking you into providing the information they want.
This includes pretending to be calling from a phone number in your contacts. This method is done by spoofing a phone number.
What is a Spoofed Phone Number?
A spoofed phone number is a fake phone number that is used to scam someone.
The caller ID can be easily spoofed, which means that the scammer can choose any number they want to appear on the victim’s caller ID display.
This makes it difficult for the victim to know if the call is real or not.
Fake phone numbers are often used in scams, where the scammer will pose as a legitimate person or company in order to try and extract money from the victim.
For example, you may receive a call from a local number and are unsure who it is.
You look up the phone number on the internet to learn the digits belonging to a neighboring post office in Orlando Florida because you have a Florida phone number.
You now know something is phishy because you have not lived in that area for years but kept the phone number.
How to Spot a Fake Phone Number
There are a few ways that fake phone numbers can be generated, and it can be difficult to tell if a number is fake just by looking at it.
One way that fake phone numbers can be generated is by using a VoIP (Voice over IP) service. These services allow users to make calls from their computers, and the caller ID can be easily spoofed.
This means that the scammer can choose any number they want to appear on the victim’s caller ID display, making it appear as if they are calling from a legitimate phone number.
Another way fake phone numbers can be generated is through the use of a burner phone.
Burner phones are pre-paid phones that can be bought anonymously, and they often have fake or no caller ID information attached to them.
This makes it very easy for scammers to use them to make fake calls, as the victim will not be able to trace the call back to a real person or phone number.
How to Avoid Scams Using Fake Phone Numbers
If you receive a call from a phone number that you do not recognize, it’s best NOT to answer that call.
If they are a legitimate caller, they will leave a voicemail message with a matching or similar phone number to call back.
Do not give out any personal information if you result in answering the call.
If possible, try to find out who the caller is and why they are calling before giving them any information. If the caller is unwilling or unable to give you this information, it is likely that they are attempting to scam you and you should hang up the call.
You can also get their phone number and tell them you are unable to have a conversation at that time and you will need to call them back. Then ensure the number they give matches the same on the caller ID. If not, there is a red flag.
You can also use a reverse phone lookup service to try and find out more information about the number that called you. This can be helpful in determining whether or not the number is fake, as well as finding out who the company may be.
Steps to Recognize Spoofed Phone Numbers
Fake and spoofed phone numbers can come from a VoIP (Voice over IP) service, which allows users to make calls from their computers using fake caller ID information. This can make it very difficult to spot a fake phone number, but there are a few things you can look out for:
1. The area code may not match the location of the person or company you’re trying to reach.
2. The number may be fake if it’s missing a country code (e.g., +1 for the US) or has an invalid country code.
3. If you receive multiple calls from the same number, that’s another red flag that the number may be fake.
4. The number may be fake if it’s been recently created or doesn’t have any history associated with it.
5. Finally, you can try running a reverse phone lookup on the number to see if it comes up as fake or not.
If you think you’ve received a call from a fake phone number, hang up the phone. It is best to block that phone number.
Even better, do NOT answer phone numbers that are not in your contacts.
How to block an unwanted number on your phone
There are a few different ways to block unwanted numbers from calling your phone:
1. Use call blocker software or an app to block the number.
2. Add the number to your phone’s blocked list.
3. Contact your phone service provider and ask them to block the number.
Once you’ve added the number to your blocked list, you’ll no longer receive calls or texts from that number. You can also add numbers to your blocked list from your call history or contact list.
If you’re ever unsure about a phone number, it’s best to err on the side of caution and not answer it.
You can also block unwanted numbers from calling your phone by adding them to your blocked list. By following these simple tips, you can help protect yourself from fake phone numbers and scams.
Phone Monitoring Apps
There are apps you can use to monitor the phones of your loved ones to prevent them from being scammed. These spy apps are great tools for protecting children and the elderly.
Scannero
Scannero is a phone locator that works on all cell phones and allows tracking of any mobile phone number (since it’s compatible with all mobile network providers).
What’s more, Scannero doesn’t require installation and allows locating as many devices as you want.
In a nutshell, you need to visit the Scannero official site, type in phone number and find the location. The whole procedure will take you about two minutes.
mSpy
mSpy is the #1 phone monitoring software that provides the best capabilities for monitoring computers and phones. mSpy is easy and convenient to use and there is nothing complicated in using it.
mSpy is highly advanced tracking and monitoring software designed to provide a safer and more controlled smartphone experience.
It captures an impressive range of data from Android and iOS mobile devices, allowing users to monitor and track call logs, emails, text messages, browsing history, social networks, multimedia content, and location.
In addition, mSpy can record keystrokes, restrict calls from undesired numbers, block access to programs, websites, and apps, lock devices, and more. mSpy offers 24/7 customer support and has a large network of international online partners.
How does mSpy help users?
The Internet has already become a critical part of our lives. While it can bring benefits for kids, like school reports preparation, and communication with peers, there is also a darker side.
From cyberbullying to interaction with online predators, there are many concerns when it comes to Internet use. And, this is where the mSpy tracking and monitoring control app comes in handy for loved ones and parents.
EyeZy
The easiest and most efficient way to monitor someone else’s whereabouts is a monitoring app. A monitoring tool, such as eyeZy, can identify the target person’s real-time location in seconds. You can see their route, date, and time stamps whenever you need by accessing your eyeZy dashboard.
On top of that, you can set geofences. This means that you can mark allowed and restricted zones on the map, and eyeZy notifies you when the needed person enters or leaves those areas.
Unlike other location tracking methods that we’ll discuss later, eyeZy isn’t limited to identifying someone’s whereabouts. It allows you to check another person’s call logs, text messages, social media apps, media files, and calendar events. What’s more, you can record the target phone’s screen remotely and get keyword alerts.
You can set up eyeZy in just a few steps:
- Go to Eyezy.com and create an account.
- Buy the subscription that corresponds to your needs.
- Check your email (the one you used during registration) for installation instructions. Make sure to follow them step by step to set up the app correctly.
- Log in to your eyeZy dashboard and link the target device.
- Give the app a few minutes and start monitoring.
Scam Alerts
When in doubt, you can check the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website for the latest information on scams.
The Better Business Bureau is also able to send notifications of the latest scams to keep you updated.
Conclusion
If you think you’ve received a call from a fake phone number, do NOT answer it.
If the call was answered, hang up and do not give out any personal information. You can also report the number to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) so they can investigate it further.
In summary, your safest bet is always to NEVER answer a phone number you do not know. Let them leave a voicemail. If they are legitimate, they will.
It’s best to stay safe ahead of technology.
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