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From annoying to outright sinister, scam calls are diverse and can sometimes be easier than expected to fall for. I’ve encountered multiple call attempts from people disguised in different ways, from telemarketing scams to people pretending to be the authorities, and these are the telltale signs.
1 Fake Customer Support
The number of times that someone has tried claiming to be a technical expert on the phone is laughable. I might be somewhat inclined to fall for their tricks if I was actually experiencing a technical issue, but they never call at these times.
Beyond claiming something is broken, these “customer support experts” may also claim that my payment failed. This is one of the most common types of phishing attacks, and you should always be cautious in these situations. If you’re ever in doubt, reach out to the product or service via one of their official support channels.
2 People Pretending to be the Authorities
Scam calls often use urgency and threats to try and coerce you into sending money to a criminal. For example, I’ve sometimes experienced calls with people pretending to be law enforcement. I also know others who’ve received fake calls from people claiming to be embassies.
Depending on where you are, you may also get scam calls from criminals pretending to be tax authorities. For example, someone might pretend to be the IRS. Again, it’s worth double-checking with your local tax authorities if you receive this kind of call.
3 Fake Charities
Some scammers pray on people’s goodwill, and fake charities are one way I’ve seen them try to do this. These can be particularly dangerous if you’re eager to please or quick to trust, two personality traits that make you more vulnerable to phishing scams and fraudulent phone calls.
When a fake charity calls you, they’ll try to tell you that they represent some kind of good cause. They might even try and guilt-trip you. A general rule of thumb for me is to donate directly to a charity I believe in; in my opinion, this is the best way to do it safely. If you’re donating to a fundraiser, it’s important to be aware of GoFundMe scams.
4 “Winning” Competitions
One of the oldest tricks in the phone call scamming book is for someone to pretend that you’ve won a competition. It’ll often involve claiming you’ve won an expensive piece of tech or a cash prize. The scammer will then likely try and get your banking details.
If you don’t remember entering a competition, you can be certain that someone is trying to scam you. And if they convince you to join one, you should ignore their request; the same goes for not trusting giveaway contests on social media. Even if the call was legitimate and you did enter a competition, the company will find an alternative way to contact you.
5 Pretending That Someone Is in Danger
Another sinister way scammers have tried to contact me before is by pretending that someone else is in danger. Sometimes, they’ve pretended that it’s someone I know. This can be very difficult to deal with because, naturally, you always wonder, “What if?”
On other occasions, the scammer will say that they are the person in danger. In these cases, it’s always easy to confirm it’s a scam. I highly doubt that someone in peril would decide to call a random phone number and try getting money from them.
In almost all cases, the person will try asking me for my bank details. It’s also good that they do this because it’s the biggest red flag.
6 Telemarketing Scams
Telemarketing calls are annoying even if they aren’t scams, and I now pay zero attention to them. But in the past, people have tried scamming me by pretending to be telemarketers.
These kinds of scams can take multiple forms. Sometimes, a person has asked me to pay for something; in other cases, they’ve suggested that I have paid too much for something. You can also recognize a telemarketing scam if the voice sounds automated.
I’ve sought to remove my phone number if it’s publicly listed online, and I also have opted out of receiving telemarketing calls when I have the option to give permission. Thanks to this, I know that any calls I receive of this kind are either scams or unwelcome.
7 Fake Bank Calls
Sometimes, users have called me and pretended to be my bank. In some cases, they’ve asked me for my account details—and in other instances, the individual has asked me to send them money. I have refused to do so on both fronts. You should be very careful with fake test transactions and similar scams.
Like telemarketing scams, many fake bank calls are automated. Your bank won’t ask you for sensitive personal information, such as your card or account security number, and you should never hand these over. If you’re in doubt, call your bank via their official support number.
8 SIM Card Scams
SIM card scams are among the most advanced phone call scams, and you, therefore, need to be on high alert to avoid becoming a victim. These scams require your mobile carrier to comply, but before that, the scammer may contact you to gather information. In some cases, they may use phishing links instead of phone calls to try and scam you.
The person will then contact your carrier and pretend to be you. I’ve avoided becoming a victim by not giving anyone information like my address unless I’m certain they’re genuine. Even then, I may go to extra lengths to verify.
9 Voicemail Scams
This isn’t a strict call scam like some of the others on this list, but in some cases, I’ve received voicemail messages from people who are obviously trying to extort money from me. In these cases, the person will try to get me to call them back and claim that it’s for some important reason.
Because of AI, these kinds of scams have become more advanced, with voice clone family scams being one example. One way to tackle this issue is to be able to tell if the number calling is a phone scam, and another is to ignore the message altogether.
10 False Debt Scam Calls
Nobody likes being in debt, and it’s easy to see why scammers would use this to their advantage. Sometimes, I’ve received calls claiming I’m in debt for products and services I have never used. The scammer will then ask me to send money to pay this off.
Even if I was in debt, I would call the entity first and confirm this. You can often also check how much you owe online. You really don’t need to let scammers perform card-cracking on you.
Scam calls are prevalent, and while mobile devices are better at picking these up, they still aren’t perfect. As a result, you need to be on guard to stop issues from arising. Knowing what to look out for is an ideal starting point.