Most people are familiar with the age-old warning to ‘never call a number you don’t know’ – yet many of us continue to ignore this advice. When it comes to unknown phone numbers, it’s important to be aware of the potential risks associated with making the call.
From scam artists to identity thieves, there are many potential dangers that come with dialing an unfamiliar number. It’s essential to understand these risks before you pick up the phone. In this article, we’ll outline some of the key risks of calling unknown phone numbers, and the steps you can take to protect yourself.
So, if you’re wondering what you need to know before you dial, read on to learn more.
What are the risks of calling unknown phone numbers?
There are a variety of potential risks associated with making an unknown call. These include:
- Callers may attempt to defraud you – Scammers use fake numbers to trick you into calling them back. Once you’ve picked up the phone, they attempt to deceive you into providing sensitive information, such as your credit card number, social security number, and more.
- Callers may try to steal your identity – Criminals use fake phone numbers to trick you into providing personal information. Once you’ve answered the call, they may attempt to use that information to access your accounts.
- Callers may place you in danger – Some phone numbers belong to criminals who may be engaged in illegal activities. These callers may attempt to lure you into participating in criminal activities or contacting law enforcement.
- Callers may leave you with a hefty phone bill – Scammers often use premium-rate phone numbers to make calls. Once you’ve answered the call, you’ll be responsible for paying the cost of the call.
What to do before you call an unknown number
Before you pick up the phone to call an unknown number, there are a few steps you can take to protect yourself. These include:
- Identify the number – Before you make the call, it’s important to identify the number you’re calling. If you’ve received an SMS or an automated call, you can identify the number using a reverse phone lookup service.
- Check for recent activity – Once you’ve identified the number, check to see if it’s recent. If the number is from a company or individual you don’t remember contacting, you should avoid calling it back.
- Block the number – If you’re not sure whether you want to call the number, you can block it. This allows you to avoid calling the number in the future.
- Report the number – If you’re concerned about the content of a call, you can report the number. This helps to protect others from falling victim to the same scam.
How to protect yourself when calling unknown numbers
As tempting as it might be to call that unknown number, there are a few steps you can take to protect yourself. These include:
- Avoid calling numbers you don’t recognize – The most important thing you can do is avoid calling unknown numbers. Unless it’s an emergency, avoid picking up the phone if the number isn’t on your contact list.
- Use a call-blocking app – If you find yourself receiving suspicious calls, consider using a call-blocking app. These apps allow you to block numbers, including fake ones, from calling you in the future.
- Don’t engage with the caller – If you receive an unwanted call, don’t engage with the caller. Simply hang up the phone, and protect yourself from falling victim to a scam.
- Contact your phone provider – If you’re receiving frequent fraudulent calls, consider contacting your phone provider.
- Check your phone bill – It’s important to check your phone bill each month and identify any unusual charges. This can help you identify and avoid potential scams.
- Protect your privacy – Avoid sharing personal information over the phone, and never disclose sensitive information such as your credit card number.
- Use apps wisely – Avoid downloading apps that request unnecessary permissions. This can help you protect your personal information.
- Be wary of caller ID spoofing – Be wary of caller ID spoofing. This occurs when scammers use false information to make your phone display a fake number.
Strategies for avoiding phone scams
With so many ways for scammers to trick you into making a call, it’s important to take steps to protect yourself from phone scams. Some ways you can do this include:
- Avoid sharing personal information – If a caller asks for personal information, it’s best to avoid sharing it. This includes information such as your social security number, account number, or credit card information.
- Don’t respond to pressure – If you’re being pressured to make a decision, it’s best to take your time and assess the situation before making a call.
- Be wary of high-pressure sales – Remember that salespeople are trained to sell their products; scammers are trained to deceive you.
- Be wary of requests for payment – If someone is asking for payment, be wary of the request. Scammers often try to trick people into making payments.
- Be wary of immigration threats – If you’re receiving threatening calls claiming that you’ve broken the law, don’t panic. These calls are most likely fake.
- Be wary of too much information – While you should be polite when speaking on the phone, it’s important to avoid giving too much information.
How to identify an unknown caller
If you’ve received a call from an unknown number, there are a few steps you can take to identify the caller. These include:
- Ask the caller for more information – If you’re not sure whether to trust the caller, ask for their name and contact information. This allows you to research the caller and decide whether or not to pick up the phone.
- Use a call-blocking app – If you receive frequent suspicious calls, consider using a call-blocking app. These apps allow you to block numbers, including fake ones.
- Check your call history – If you’re not sure what to do after receiving a suspicious call, take a look at your call history. This can help you identify the fake number.
- Call the organization directly – If you’re not sure whether the caller is legitimate, contact the organization directly. This allows you to confirm whether the caller is who they say they are.
- Use a reverse lookup service – If you want to identify the caller, you can use a reverse lookup service. This allows you to identify the number, and decide whether or not to pick up the phone.
What to do if you receive a suspicious call
- Hang up the phone – If you receive a suspicious call, hang up the phone. This avoids putting you in contact with the caller and can help you avoid falling victim to a scam.
- Don’t engage with the caller – In addition to hanging up the phone, it’s important to avoid engaging with the caller. Scammers rely on sensationalist language and false promises to trick people into providing information, so you should try to remain calm and avoid engaging in conversation.
- Block the number – If you receive frequent suspicious calls, consider blocking the number. This allows you to avoid receiving future calls from the same number and can help you avoid falling victim to a scam.
- Report the number – If you’re concerned about the content of a call, you can report the number. This helps to protect others from falling victim to the same scam.
- Check your phone bill – It’s important to check your phone bill each month and identify any unusual charges. This can help you identify and avoid potential scams.
The importance of monitoring your phone bills
Although you should always double-check your phone bill, it’s important to monitor your phone bills and look for any fraudulent activity.
This can help you identify potential scammers before they take advantage of your account, and can also help you identify other potential risks associated with making an unknown call.
Some things you should look out for when reviewing your phone bills include:
- Call Volume – Be wary of unusually high call volumes. This can indicate that scammers are using your phone to make fraudulent calls.
- Usage – Be wary of unusual call times, dates, and other useful information.
