Can Robocalls Steal Your Identity?

Find Out What To Do If You Fall For A Robocall Scam

Recognize and Avoid Robocalls

There’s nothing more irritating than phone calls that are automated – particularly when they’re trying to take advantage of you. Are you aware of a message to renew your car warranty however you do not have a vehicle? Do you think the call sounded like an audio recording? Unsolicited calls that contain recorded messages, referred to as”robocalls,” have been a source of irritation since the advent of the phone. They’re only getting worse.

However, robocalls appear to be a regular occurrence and if you’re not vigilant it could be a risk. What are frauds that rely on robocalls? Can robocalls steal your identity? What are you able to do about them?

Can robocalls steal your identity?

Can robocalls steal your identity? Yes, Robocalls are a way to steal information about you. A robocall is an automated message transmitted by a computer dialer. They are typically connected to telemarketing companies as well as political parties. However, scammers have been making use of robocalls in order to steal financial and personal information from victims.

What are robocalls?

A robocall is a phone call which broadcasts recorded messages through automated dialing software to millions of people daily. If you answer your telephone and you hear an audio message rather than an actual person talking, then you’re listening to an automated call.

Some robocalls can provide valuable details, such as reminders for appointments or cancellations of flights. They usually attempt to convince you to buy something, and the majority are scams.

How Scammers Use Robocalls to Steal Personal Information

The following scenario is likely something you’ve experienced. You receive a call from an unknown number. The local area code is the one you have and you are able to answer the phone. Perhaps a family member received a new phone number, you believe. However, when you call them to the number, you’re met by several seconds of silence. In the end, someone speaks. Sometimes , they say that you were calling them and that they would like to be aware of your name. Sometimes, they inquire about the protection against viruses on your computer.

Scammers employ auto-dialers and fake area codes to lure users into answering the phone. From there, it’s just a numbers game. The fraudsters want as much personal information about the person who is calling as they can. It could be everything from names and date of birth to credit card numbers.

How to Identify a Robocall Scam

However, it’s not always possible to count on caller ID to determine if a call is genuine because of the phenomenon called call spoofing. By spoofing calls, scammers have their calls appear as a legitimate, known or even a local number. Spoofers could create the appearance that your personal number is calling you. Instead, become acquainted with the signs of the robocalls by identifying:

A clearly recorded message. As mentioned above any recorded message that tries to make you buy something is most likely to be a fraud.
There is silence at the start of the conversation. The call system may be waiting to hear your response before pressing.
A voice that sounds like an actual person, but whose timing is out of. Certain robocalls are capable of sounding as if they’re a real conversation, by creating an underlying script that is based on the expected responses, however if you do not answer, they will be continuing to talk without your permission.
Calls about products that you don’t have. If the caller is talking about an extended warranty for your vehicle however you don’t own any warranty then you are safe to say that it’s a scam.
Messages that appear urgent. Certain robocalls use urgency to get you likely to be willing to participate. For example, they could claim that your Social Security number has been compromised or there is a warrant issued to arrest you.

What Types of Robocall Scams Are There?

There’s a myriad of scam robocalls that are circulating on telephone lines and cell towers nowadays, but the majority of them have a similarity in the sense that they’re trying to appear authentic. Some are based on the anxiety about financial or legal problems, while others take an opposite approach, offering you promotions or even winnings.

The way in which scams are carried out may differ, but generally they involve an automated phone which attempts to connect you with an actual person. The person who is calling you is supposed to appear authentic, but it is actually an important element of the fraud.

Tech support. When you call the scammer pretends that they are tech support such as Apple or Microsoft. They’ll usually say that something is wrong in your computer or account, and promise assistance to “fix it” for you. They may attempt to force you to install software for this, but it won’t solve your computer’s problem and will instead make it more infected.
Stolen identity. Sometimes, you’ll get an urgent phone call informing you that your identity was stolen. Naturally, they request personal details in order to “verify” you’re who you claim to be. In reality, they’re taking your identity.
Financial problems. Scammers typically pretend to represent credit card or banks. They’ll say that they’ve noticed unusual transactions on your account, or that your credit card was stolen. This can be particularly difficult since banks frequently contact you to inform you of fraud. But, unlike frauds that use robocalls, legitimate banks will not ask for your personal information or credit card numbers.
You owe money. This is a frequent tactic used by scammers who make robocalls. They pretend to originate from banks, loan collection services and perhaps the IRS. They claim that you’re in the middle of a debt and will attempt to collect your personal details, or even make an account for a transfer.
Charity scams. Unfortunately, scammers often profit from the generosity of the public. They’ll appear to be representing a charity and then attempt to establish some type of transfer of funds. Although this can occur all year long, it’s most prevalent during the holiday season.
Authoritative institutions. Sometimes, they’ll make you believe that you’re in legal trouble , and then pretend to represent authorities like the IRS, Social Security, or FBI. They’ll make threats of legal action if they aren’t following their directions which typically involve divulging your personal details.
Emergencies. They can be among the most difficult scams to avoid and can be particularly clever. The call basically states that a friend of yours is in trouble, such as being placed in jail. The caller asks you to wire money to pay for bail or court costs.

What are the Steps to Avoid Robocalls


Don’t pick up calls from unknown callers or numbers.
Even if you pick up, hang up immediately. Once you’ve picked up the robocall, scammers can automatically know your number is active, so they keep on calling. If you let the call ring to the end, they think your number is inactive.
Don’t share your information with someone you don’t know..
Some automated calls might seem like they’re coming from a government agency or trusted company. But keep in mind reputable agencies and companies don’t ask for your personal information over the phone. If you didn’t call the number, don’t share your personal or financial data.
Don’t follow the robot’s instructions.
Sometimes the robots might prompt you to follow a set of instructions. Unfortunately, if you follow the instructions, the scammers can identify you as a potential victim, resulting in more future robocalls.
Report the Robocall to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
You can report the call to the FTC by going to DoNotCall.gov. On the website, provide the number on your caller ID, your number, and, if possible, the exact date and time. The FTC uses this information to track and identify the scammers who made the call.
Be Cautious
Always check who’s calling first before receiving any phone call. For example, if it’s a government agency or company, hang up and head to their website to confirm their number. Don’t take chances with robocalls because you might lose your money and even your identity.

How to Stop Robocalls

Here are some of the most efficient strategies to stop calls from robocalls:

National Do Not Call Registry: If you sign up to register on the National Do Not Call Registry You can select whether to receive calls from telemarketing. It will block all marketing calls from registered companies. But, you’ll still receive calls from other groups like political organizations, and so on.
Download Robocall Blocking Apps and Softwares: There are numerous phone applications on the web that identify and stop the robocalls. These applications typically have massive databases of contacts , which allow them to check numbers and differentiate legitimate callers from frauds.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I answer a robocall?

If you are contacted by a phone call the best thing you can do is not to answer. If you do answer an incoming call, the phone number is considered to be legitimate by fraudsters, even though you’re not necessarily a victim of the fraud. They’ll call again since they know that someone who is on the other end of the spectrum could be a scam victim. The less you reply to your phone, the fewer calls you’ll get.

How do robocallers get your number?

With a mobile phone.
Dialog box for Terms of Service.
Data accumulating firms.
Companies that report on credit.
Competitions and contests.
Charities.
Emergency assistance.

How to tell if your phone number is spoofed?

If you receive calls from individuals who claim that your phone number is appearing in their Caller IDs, then it’s a good indication that your phone number has been fraudulently spoofed. We recommend that you don’t answer all calls coming from numbers that are not yours; however, if you are contacted, inform them that your phone number has been spoofed and that you didn’t really make any calls.

How to Stop Someone from Spoofing my Phone Number?

Make sure you block calls to remove your phone number
Install an anti-spoofing application on your phone
See whether your service provider provides security
Utilize caller ID blocking whenever you can.
Make a complaint to the FCC.