Fraud comes in many forms, and Caller ID Spoofing is no exception.  Caller ID Spoofing is the act of manipulating originating caller data to display a different caller ID name or number for malicious purposes.

The FCC is trying to crack down on spoofing by implementing the TRACED Act, a STIR/SHAKEN mandate, but currently the best defense again spoofing is to educate consumers.

It is recommended that businesses educate their customers to never provide personal, financial, or sensitive information over the phone.  We recommend alerting your customers about spoofing, as it is an industry-wide problem traversing across all carriers and networks.

Click here for the FCC’s consumer tips on preventing spoofing, spam/scam calls, and more.

Phone scammers often disguise their identify by using illegal techniques such as spoofing numbers and names of individuals and businesses.  By spoofing the caller ID, they are sending false call ID information to the recipient to appear as a local business or person.  Often times they use similar area codes and local business names to appear to be a legitimate company.

Do not answer calls from unknown numbers.  Even if the caller appears to display a local business name, let the call go to voicemail especially if you were not expecting a call from that business.

Don’t hang on– hang up!  If you answer, and it was not who you were expecting, hang up immediately.  Don’t hang on the call and continue engaging the bad actor as they will try to manipulate you into providing money or personal information.  Don’t ever trust that the person calling you is trustworthy–hang up and call back using a number found on your bill, statement, or official website.

If a caller asks you to hit a button for whatever reason, such as to stop getting their calls, hang up immediately.  Do not hit any buttons.

Con artist can be very convincing.  They will use trust and scare tactics to manipulate you.  They will clone a loved ones’ voice and use their name and personal information taken from social media to confuse you.  They will create urgency, such as ‘your loved one is in danger and you need to wire money immediately to help them.’  They will ask innocuous questions, sound threatening, or offer things that are too good to be true.

Do not give out any personal information, credit cards, bank account information, social security numbers, passwords, or answer any security questions.  If the caller is asking for immediate payment, be very cautious.  There is no reason a caller should need this information immediately.  Hang up, take time to research the caller and what they are asking for, and when in doubt, make a payment through your online banking system rather than over the phone.

Ask your phone company about call blocking tools for your service type (landline or mobile).  Some mobile providers allow you to block the caller at the number level on your smartphone–usually by scrolling down to the bottom of the call details.

Report spoofing scams to law enforcement, the FCC and FTC.  Learn more at fcc.gov/spoofing.

ACC Telecom is a business telecommunications system and service provider with over 40 years of industry experience.  ACC specializes in cloud-based communications systems and VoIP / SIP Trunk services.  Please contact ACC for a complimentary consultation and price quotation.