Scam calls are annoying, and many people will agree with this statement. There are days when the number of such buzzes banging on your phone is way more than the number of rings from friends, family, or colleagues.
Fraudsters have raised the bar by even cloning local IDs, making it extremely difficult for many phone users to detect who stands behind the number.
It does not just end there; if you don’t know how to protect yourself, you may become a victim of identity theft or simply waste your time.
If you can relate to what we are saying and are wondering what you can do to stop this annoying intervention, this article is a must-read.
Article Contents
What To Do To Stop Receiving Scam Calls
Here are three things you can do to stop receiving scam buzzes:
1. Contact Your Phone Service Provider For Help
Not many people know this, but depending on the country you live in and your phone service provider, there are options for you to block any fraudulent callers.
So, if you are receiving fraudulent rings, just contact your phone service provider to file a complaint. In some cases, you may be required to pay service fees, but it’s still worth it.
2. Use Spam Call Blocker Apps
There are several apps on Play Store and Apple Store that can help you detect and block incoming spam calls.
Before the call comes in, the app runs the number through its database, and if the number is found to be registered as a spam number, it will be blocked.
By the way, there’s a fine line between scam and spam, as the latter can easily transform into the former.
The downside of using some of these apps is that you may need to keep updating them from time to time and may be required to pay service fees.
3. Use The Do Not Disturb option
The Do Not Disturb option is available on iOS and Android devices. Using it means you can only receive calls from people you have on your contact list; any other caller outside your contact list will be directed to voicemail.
While this option is useful to tackle scam calls, someone you know may genuinely want to reach out to you but will be directed to voicemail.
It is usually annoying to urgently want to talk to someone but not having such an opportunity.
To solve this problem, you can add the person’s number to your contact list once you receive their voice note.
What To Do When You Suspect A Scam Call
Sometimes, you would have done all that is needed to prevent the fraudulent buzz, but it somehow finds its way into your phone.
Do not be surprised and worried; it can happen because fraudsters upgrade their tactics all the time, and sometimes they may get lucky.
If that is the case, here are the things to do:
1. Do Not Pick Calls With Unknown ID
When someone with an unknown ID calls you, the chances that it could be a fraudster contacting you are high. There are billions of such calls happening every year.
The best option will be not to pick up. You should have the contacts of important people in your phonebook.
2. If You Must Pick Up The Call, Don’t Say A Word
There are times when you may need to pick up a call with an unknown ID, mostly when you are expecting a buzz from a person you have recently given your number to.
When you do pick up, don’t say a word; allow the person from the other end to start the conversation.
If it’s the buzz you are expecting, you can talk; otherwise, hang up immediately.
3. Block Scam Callers
Whenever a trickster contacts you, don’t give them the chance to do it again.
In fact, the chance that the person would want to contact you one more time is high since you probably did not say a word the first time. As soon as you hang up, block the number.
4. Don’t Confirm Any Information Until You Are Sure
Sometimes, the caller ID will be from a known company or government agency, and you may be required to confirm certain information.
Do not confirm anything, even your name, until you are sure that the caller can be trusted. You can ask the person one or two questions to be sure.
If you are not satisfied with the answers to your questions, request a minute to confirm the number from the company’s or government agency’s website.
5. Use People Search Websites
People search sites are tools you can use to get information on anyone who contacts you.
They collect information from public sources and compile it into detailed reports.
With the help of Nuwber, a people search engine with 325 million phone numbers, you can find out the caller’s name.
After the number is reverse searched, you will also get access to the individual’s personal information, such as social media profiles, addresses, professional details, etc.
6. Turn To Your Mobile OS
Depending on the type of phone you are using, Samsung, for example, has an inbuilt technology that helps to flag any call that it suspects to be a con.
You can also use Google Pixel Devices. As soon as a suspected fraudster contacts you, your phone screen will change to red. You may then hang up or ignore the call.
7. Keep Learning
Knowledge is powerful, and tricksters use the lack of it in some people to their advantage. The methods they use change as they improve their tactics regularly.
As fraudsters up their games, their new methods are updated to scam as many people as possible.
So, you will do yourself, your family members, and your friends good by learning more about common phone scam techniques. When you have new information, share it with others.
Final Thoughts
Scam calls are a waste of time and can disturb your peace, but what’s worse, if fraudsters succeed, you may lose your money or even become a victim of identity theft. To protect yourself, use the tips described above.
