What Are Spoofed Calls?
A spoof call is a deceptive practice where a caller will intentionally change their caller ID number to a completely different one to deceive the recipient. In other words, the caller falsifies their caller ID information to disguise their true identity and trick the recipient into thinking they are someone else.
The fake caller ID number usually has a local area code and phone number, which means the recipient is more likely to answer the call. The number may even be from a trusted business or organization in the recipient’s local city or neighborhood, such as a bank or law enforcement agency. The scammer uses these numbers to gain the recipient’s trust, allowing them to carry out their scam with minimal resistance.
The scammer will try to scam the recipient in various ways. Here are some of the popular scams associated with spoof calls:
- Impersonates a police officer or government employee and threatens the recipient with arrest unless they provide their payment or personal information.
- Impersonates a bank officer and tells the recipient that suspicious activity has taken place in their bank account. The “officer” requests the recipient’s banking details, such as their PIN, online login credentials, or checking account number, to “verify” their identity.
- Impersonates the recipient’s relative, such as a grandchild, and pretends they are in trouble and need financial help. The scammer will get the recipient to wire money to them, thinking they are helping their relative.
The people who make spoofed calls do so to commit identity theft, fraud, and other types of scams that end up costing victims time, money, and emotional stress. In some cases, the unsuspecting victims could face legal consequences of their own if their identities were stolen and used for unlawful purposes.
For this reason, spoofed calls have become much more serious than merely receiving an annoying phone call from a suspicious person. They have negatively impacted many people’s lives because the scammers altered their caller IDs to deceive them for personal and financial gain. Don’t let the same thing happen to you.
How Easy Is It to Make a Spoof Call to Someone?
When caller ID technology was originally invented, it was difficult to falsify a caller ID number because it relied on the data signals connected to physical telephone lines and telecommunications equipment. But now, thanks to modern internet telephone technology, it is much easier for scammers to fake caller ID information.
The scammers generally use VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology to change their caller ID information. VoIP allows someone to make a phone call over a high-speed internet connection without needing to use a traditional landline. The technology routes each call through a series of different servers from around the world, similar to how websites are accessed.
The intended purpose of VoIP is to enable people to make voice calls anywhere in the world without worrying about long-distance charges or bad connections. Unfortunately, the extensive call routing makes it easier to modify the caller ID data from any one of those servers.
Here are the steps of how a scammer uses this technology to carry out a spoof call to deceive someone:
1) The Scammer Finds a VoIP Provider with Dynamic Caller ID
A scammer would look for a VoIP provider that offers a feature called “dynamic caller ID,” which is the option to customize the caller ID information when making outbound calls.
Alternative Method
There are also spoofing calling services available on websites and mobile apps. Scammers don’t need to sign up for a VoIP service with them because they will let you create a virtual phone number.
2) The Scammer Chooses a Phone Number
The scammer will carefully choose a phone number that will increase the likelihood of the recipient answering their call.
3) The Scammer Customizes the Caller ID Data
If they are using a VoIP service, the scammer can manually enter their chosen number. If they are using an online spoofing service, they can create the virtual number of their choice and pay a small fee to make calls.
4) The Recipient Receives the Call
The recipient receives the call, and the caller ID shows the fake number. Since it looks legitimate, they are likely to answer.
How to Protect Yourself from Spoof Calls
Are you worried about becoming the next victim of a spoof call? Here are some tips:
- Never share any personal information over the phone (especially with someone who calls you first).
- Let all phone calls go to voicemail. Listen to messages and verify information on your own.
- If someone claims to be a police officer, call your local station to confirm.
- Use call-blocking apps or tools from your mobile carrier.
