How To Protect Yourself from Scam Phone Calls

How often do you get calls from unknown numbers and answer only to find out it’s a machine or someone trying to obtain your information? Scam phone calls are becoming increasingly problematic in today’s digital age. There are different types and generally, include either a person at the end of the call or a ‘robocall.’ The latter is an automated, pre-recorded message.

With so many varying kinds of spam callers, itis more vital than ever that we learn to safeguard ourselves. To find out who called and avoid becoming a victim of some very original modern-day crimes, check out the following tips to learn how to protect yourself.

Register Your Number

The first thing you should do if your phone is receiving a high number of unwanted calls is to register your number with the National Do Not Call Registry. This should help to put an end to the majority of the unwanted phone calls you have been receiving. It is free to register your home or cellphone number and you can decide whether or not to receive telemarketing calls.

If your number is on the National Do Not Call Registry and you are still receiving calls after 31 days, you should report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). You can also report any new robocalls or spam calls to the FTC at any time.

Safety Features

Some of the newest smartphones have a built-in spammer ID function. When an unknown number is ringing, the phone will display a message with the caller ID that identifies a possible spammer. Additionally, many of the latest iOS or Android systems have an anonymous call rejection feature called Do Not Disturb mode. This allows users to activate a function that screens call with unrecognized caller IDs.

As well as these built-in elements, there are many new apps available that help to protect your phone from spam callers. These can be downloaded and installed on your cellphone via the normal app stores. Make sure to looks at there views and online reputation of the app before installing it into your phone.

Finally, as a last resort, you can still block individual numbers through the call settings on your cellphones. This way you can eliminate the possibility of that particular number reaching you anymore.

Provider Protection

Certain network providers now offer a service for protection from these types of unwanted calls. This type of security is also available on landlines, to protect your home phone too.

Phone providers can act as a barrier between annoying callers and your number but this is usually a paid service. Contact your network to find out what services are available to help avoid spam callers.

Stay Alert

Once you have the digital protection necessary, it is also essential to stay informed of the types of cons being employed. It is wise to train yourself on how to deal with suspicious callers.

Some spam calls can be very deceitful and obtain information without you realizing it. Thus, it is important to choose a course of action if you believe you are being targeted by a spam call. The first and most obvious choice is not to answer and if you do, by mistake, to hang up. If you find yourself in a conversation with someone requesting information -- someone claiming to be your bank or another institution -- the best bet is to tell them you will call them and hang up. Then to make sure, you should get in touch with the official contact center.

Many scam callers manipulate people into giving up information by pretending to ‘confirm your identity’ with you. Be aware that it is never wise to give sensitive information over the phone. It should only is done when you are the person making the call to an official source.

Other well-known scams include lotteries, the IRS, grandparents, utilities, prizes, and more. Remember to check the white pages online if you are unsure about a number that is calling you. Finally, also consider carefully who you give your number to and only do so on forms when it is absolutely necessary.