If you’re like me and refuse to give up your home landline, you’re probably no stranger to… well, strange calls. Landlines are more likely to receive unwanted calls than mobile phones, which offer better call blocking options.
If you’re used to receiving occasional unwanted calls on your landline, you probably already have a system to handle them. Maybe you just hang up as soon as you see a number you don’t recognize (or maybe you recognize it right now because they call a lot). Or maybe even pick up the line and tell them what you think. However, is this the right thing to do?
And what happens when your landline rings and the caller ID appears? his number? Strange, right? This is what happened to one of our CyberGuy Report subscribers, who reached out to ask us about it. As crazy as it sounds, this person said the scammer got his home phone number and used it to call the same number they were spoofing. Obviously, this is a little more cause for concern than common scammers.
Maybe you answer the line and give feedback to the spam callers. But is this the right thing to do? (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
If the scammer appears to be calling from your own number
Now, if the scammer you see on your caller ID appears to be calling from your own landline number, you’ll need to follow the steps above in addition to the following three:
1) Notify your telephone provider: If your number has been spoofed, you should inform your telephone company as soon as possible. Depending on the situation, they may be able to guide you on the best way to proceed.
2) Get your personal information offline: There are several ways phone spoofers can hijack your phone number, but chances are they can easily find personal information online. There are several tools you can use to find where your personal information is hidden online and disconnect it, away from scammers who want to steal your information and exploit it, whether to commit identity theft or anything else.
While no service promises to remove all of your data from the internet, having a removal service is great if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites on an ongoing basis over a longer period of time. Check out my top picks for data removal services here.
3) Change your number: If all else fails and your phone company can’t help you, a good idea is to change your home phone number entirely. While you may not want to do this, it may be the only solution, especially if the scammer continues calling you at your same number and if your friends and family receive those calls as well.
Interacting with unknown people can expose you to scams or other forms of fraud. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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3 reasons not to interact with scammers who call you
Now, let’s focus on why it is best not to interact with scammers who call you, regardless of whether they are using your own phone number or another. Here are some reasons why:
1) Security: Interacting with unknown people can potentially expose you to scams or other forms of fraud.
2) Privacy: Even if you’re giving them a hard time, they may still be collecting information about you in the meantime. And now, with AI voice scams, these scammers can clone your voice to use in other types of scams.
3) stimulus: Answering these calls, even negatively, can tell the caller that your number is active, which could lead to more calls.
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Ask yourself a simple question: “Did I request this call?” If the answer is no, hang up. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Stop Scam Calls: 4 Ways to Protect Yourself
Of course, no one wants to continue receiving scam calls. Therefore, there are some recommended steps you can follow:
1) Let the answering machine answer or go to voicemail. This allows you to screen calls without directly interacting with potential scammers. You can avoid direct interaction with them and listen to the message at your convenience to determine if it is legitimate.
2) Block the numbers: If you notice that certain numbers are calling repeatedly, you can block them. Take a look at our best target call blocking devices. They are especially useful for blocking robocalls, but can also help block individual scammers.
- Use star codes: Many landlines allow you to block calls using star codes. For example, you can dial *60 to block specific numbers.
- Call blocking devices: Devices can be connected to your landline to block unwanted calls. These devices may come preloaded with known spam numbers and allow you to add numbers manually. Check out my favorite call blocking devices for landlines by clicking here.
- Service Provider Features: Contact your landline service provider to inquire about the call blocking features they offer. Some providers have services that can help manage unwanted calls.
3) Report calls: If you are in the US, you can Report unwanted calls to the Federal Trade Commission.
4) Add yourself to the do not call list: Consider adding your phone number to National Do Not Call Registrywhich can help stop some of the scams and telemarketing calls you receive.
Remember, while these methods can significantly reduce unwanted calls, it may not be possible to completely block all unwanted calls. Always be careful and avoid sharing personal information over the phone with unknown people. My rule of thumb is to ask yourself a simple question: “Did I request this call?” If the answer is no, hang up.
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Kurt’s Key Takeaways
Receiving unwanted calls on your landline is no fun, and even more so when those calls come from your own number. Remember, it is important to protect your personal information and privacy and always be careful when dealing with unknown people. Using the techniques above can help ensure that you are not only using best practices when dealing with scammers, but also protect yourself from future scammers in the long term.
How do you think phone companies should address scam calls and caller ID spoofing? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
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