Scam Alert: Beware Phone Calls from Your Own Phone Number

People all over the country have been receiving strange phone calls. What makes them strange is that when consumers check the incoming call on their caller ID, the phone number shown is their own. These phone calls are troublesome because they are coming from scammers who are hoping that your curiosity will lead you the answer a call you would normally avoid.

Scammers are now using technology to mask their phone numbers as your own, knowing that this tactic will likely be more successful than if they masked their numbers using labels like “Caller Unknown.” Usually when you answer such a call, you will hear a robocall claiming to be representing your credit card company or Microsoft. The robocall will offer to sell you a new product, and will ask for personal information (like your credit card number) in order to make purchase. This scam aims to steal credit card information, so consumers should not give into curiosity, and avoid answering these calls.

When scams like this become common, it is important to remind consumers of how to protect themselves from fraud. To avoid become the victim of this or other similar phone scams, avoid answering calls from unfamiliar phone numbers or calls from your phone numbers. If the call is legitimate, the caller will usually leave a message and you can call back later. If you do accidentally answer a robocall, hang up immediately. Always remember to never give out personal information (credit card number, bank account number, Social Security number, etc.) through the phone unless you initiated the call and are completely sure of to whom you are speaking.

Reference:

Lipka, M. (2014). Why is my own phone number calling me? CBS Moneywatch. Retrieved from http://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-is-my-own-phone-number-calling-me/