This guide outlines the worst and growing phone scams you need to be aware of to keep your money and your identity safe from theft.
Phone scammers have no conscience. They have no problem lying, cheating, and stealing in order to get what they want. And what they want is your hard-earned money.
Unfortunately, these scammers are also cunning and often very convincing. They know how to exploit your fears and play on your emotions in order to get you to hand over your cash.
That’s why it’s so important to be aware of the different types of phone scams that are out there.
Worst phone scams to beware
By knowing what they are, you can more easily spot them and avoid becoming a victim.
The Missed Call Scam
One of the most common phone scams is the “missed call” scam. This is where you receive a missed call from an unfamiliar number, and when you call back, you’re charged an exorbitant amount of money for the call.
They do this by calling you from a premium rate number, which is a service that charges you just for calling it. The scammers make money every time someone calls the number back.
What to do: If you receive a missed call from an unfamiliar number, don’t call it back. Just delete the number and forget about it. If it’s important or legitimate, they’ll leave a voicemail.
The Fake Charity Scam
Another of the common phone scams is the fake charity scam. One of the most repugnant scams, the fake charity scam involves scammers pretending to represent a legitimate charity and trying to get you to donate money.
They often do this by calling you out of the blue and asking for a donation. They may try to play on your emotions through stories of sick children or natural disasters. Or they may claim to be from a well-known charity that you’ve heard of before.
What to do: If you’re contacted by someone asking for a donation, don’t give them any money. Hang up the phone and research the charity yourself to see if it’s legitimate. You can also contact the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been any complaints about the charity. You can also do a reverse phone lookup to see who the number actually belongs to.
The Debt Collection Scam
Debt can be scary. The thought of someone coming after you for money that you owe can be enough to make your heart skip a beat. So it’s no surprise that scammers have figured out how to exploit this fear in their phone scams.
The debt collection scam is where a scammer calls you and pretends to be a debt collector. They may claim to be from a collection agency or even the IRS. They’ll try to scare you into paying them by threatening legal action or arrest.
What to do: If you’re contacted by a debt collector, don’t panic. Ask for their name, company, address, and phone number. Tell them you’ll call them back. Then hang up the phone and do a reverse phone lookup to see who they are. If they’re a legitimate debt collector, you’ll be able to find their information easily. If not, it’s a scam.
The Government Agency Scam
One of the scariest phone scams is the government agency scam. The scammer calls you and claims to be from a government agency like the FBI, CIA or even the DMV. They may say that you’re in trouble for something you’ve done or that you owe money to the government.
They’ll try to scare you into paying them by threatening arrest or legal action. They may even say that they’re coming to arrest you if you don’t pay up.
What to do: This is particularly scary, but don’t panic. First of all, think about how the person is talking to you. Often, scammers will not sound professional. Rather, they’ll be aggressive and try to scare you into paying them.
Rather than acquiescing, hang up and call the agency directly or call your local law enforcement. They’ll often be able to help you. Also, Google the phone number the supposed agency called from. Often, you’ll find that others have reported the same number as a scam.
The Grandparent Scam
Finally, one of the most despicable phone scams is the grandparent scam. Unfortunately, elderly people are one of the most susceptible groups to scammers. The grandparent scam is where a scammer calls an elderly person and pretends to be their grandchild. It may seem strange that this could work, but some people have many grandkids and don’t remember how they all sound.
They’ll say that they’re in some kind of trouble and need money. They may even say that they’ve been arrested or are in the hospital. They’ll try to get the grandparent to wire them money or give them their credit card information.
What to do: If you get a call from someone claiming to be anyone in your family, make sure to verify their identity. Ask them personal questions that only they would know the answer to.
You can also ask them to call you back so you can call them on your own phone. This way, you can verify the number they’re calling from. If it’s a scam, chances are the number won’t match up.
Conclusion
As we move into 2022, it’s important to be aware of the different phone scams that are out there. By knowing what to look for, you can avoid being scammed and losing your hard-earned money. The five scams we’ve talked about in this article are some of the most common. But remember, scammers are constantly coming up with new schemes, so it’s important to stay vigilant.
If you think you may have been contacted by a scammer, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. There are many resources available online and through your local law enforcement agency. And if you know someone who may be vulnerable to a scammer, please warn them!
Photo by Karolina Grabowska
