Americans lost an average of $350 per person to phone scams in 2021. Statistics reveal that people report scam numbers and invest in spam-blocking services only after falling prey to a scam.
The Community Phone spam blocker is an excellent option to protect yourself and your loved ones from being duped by scammers.
The spam blocker uses the anti-robocall technology approved by the FCC in 2021 by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), which allows people to report scam phone numbers and block them.
What are Scam Calls?
A scam call is a phone call that is made with the intent to defraud or cheat the person who answered the phone. Scam calls can be made in many different ways, but often involve calling unsuspecting victims pretending to be from a legitimate organization or business. The goal to try and extract personal information or money from the person who answers.
How to Report a Scam Phone Number?
The Federal Trade Commission agency is responsible for accumulating fraud reports, identifying con artists, and taking the appropriate action against them. The FTC is an independent agency that protects the interest of consumers by tending to complaints and can even provide refunds if the conditions are right.
To report scam phone numbers on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), visit https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or call 1-877-382-4357 from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM ET.
If you are wondering how to report a scammer?, not all types of scams can be reported to the FTC. The following are specific scams that can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC):
1. Electronic mail
2. Contact center scams
3. Con scams
4. Fake checks
5. Requests that you hand them money (check, wire transfers, gift cards)
6. Scams involving educational loans
7. Fake grants, prices, and contest scams
Common Types of Scams to Look Out For
Scammers use different mediums to get to their target. Many of them target landlines, as there is no way to block unwanted calls proactively. You can block spam calls on landlines manually only after receiving them.
To protect yourself from scammers, you must be proactive and get the automated spam blocker from Community Phone to flag and block unwanted calls before your phone rings.
Here are some of the common scams you need to be aware of:
1. The Grandparent Scam
This is one of the oldest and most disreputable scams that involve tricking older people. It is mainly done by impersonating the recipient's grandchild and lying to them for immediate needs like fees, rent, or even medical needs. These grandparents fall prey because they want to help out of love.
2. Government impersonation Scams
****Scammers call business owners or senior citizens pretending to be IRS officers or social security officers, and citizens obey their instructions. This gives scammers access to their victim's personal information like banking details and other sensitive information.
3. Health insurance scams
Seniors citizens or permanent residents of the US over 65 are entitled to medicare. Scammers collect personal data from seniors pretending to enroll them in healthcare.
4. The fake accident scam
****To get people to send them money right away, the con artist poses as someone's loved one and claims they were in an accident. This is one reason you should **report any scam phone number** and be wary, as this type of scam is usually thoroughly planned.
5. Customer service scam
****Con artists will pose as representatives of well-known corporations like Apple or Microsoft. They give the impression that you have maintenance problems. They request information, such as your login information, which enables them to access your data and download programs that would steal all of your data.
6. Lottery scam
****Scammers will target people they might have found on a lottery database and inform them that they have won a lottery. They lure the target by asking for bank details and then telling them to pay tax on the amount before receiving payment.
7. Fake charity appeals
****Scammers pretend to be an NGO while people fall for it in the light of helping the needy.
8. Bank fraud calls
****This is a prevalent form of scam where the caller pretends to be an official who wants to help with your account. They ask for banking information like your account number, passwords, card number, and other sensitive information giving them access to your account.
What to Do to Stop Getting Scam Calls?
It has been established that scam calls can risk one's financial status and personal information. How can you report a scammer? The following solutions can help you stop receiving scam calls.
1.Get Community Phone to Avoid Spam Calls
Community Phone offers 2 service to automatically flag and blocks unwanted calls before your phone rings:
1. Spam Call Blocker - ideal for households, businesses, and individuals
2. Optional Whitelisting Services -ideal for seniors, people with dementia, and other ailments.
Community Phone Spam Call Blocker
- When you receive a call on your Community Phone landline, your phone will not alert you with a ring.
- The caller will hear a recording that asks them to press 1 to connect.
- Since most scam calls are robocalls, they cannot press the number.
- Inaction from the robocaller allows the Community Phone spam blocker to flag the call, disconnect it, and block it.
- If the caller follows the instructions and your phone rings, it may be advisable to let calls from unidentified numbers go to voicemail.
- You can decide to respond to the missed call after due diligence, protecting yourself from scams.
Optional Whitelisting Service
Here's how this service works:
- Compile the list of numbers from which you want to receive calls.
- Call Community Phone customer care at 866-259-1858.
- Share this list with the customer care rep.
- Community Phone will update these numbers at the back end.
- Your landline will now allow calls from the numbers on your list and block all other calls.
2. Sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry
The government created the National Do Not Call Registry to let telemarketers know whose lines are prohibited from receiving sales calls. This aids in clearing your line of potential robocallers. To sign up, go to https://www.donotcall.gov/.
3. Use the *60 Code
Sometimes you realize that the call you're getting is a scam call and want to get them off your radar fast. Dial *60# and the number you want to block to get rid of them. You can also report scam phone numbers to prevent them from harming others.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I stop getting so many spam calls?
1. Get the Community Phone spam blocker to automatically flag and block unwanted calls. Call customer care at 866-259-1858 to learn more!
2. You can also call from the number that received the spam call and register on the National Do Not Call list by calling 1-888-382-1222 or 1-866-290-4236 (TTY).
3. Sign up with donotcall.gov.
4. *60# to manually block unwanted numbers.
What happens if you call back a scam number?
1. It would link to a foreign number.
2. The call would be billed to your account.
3. You will be marked as a target, increasing the number of scam calls.
You should report a scam call and should never try calling back.
Should I answer scam calls?
No, you should never answer scam calls. Getting a spam blocker from Community Phone that automatically blocks unwanted calls is the best option to protect yourself from phone scams. Call customer care at 866-259-1858 to learn more!
What are Scam calls trying to do?
1. They attempt to steal your private information, such as your account number, card information, PIN, etc.
2. They may steal your identity and use the information to start bank accounts, procure loans, or buy expensive items letting you pay the bill.
Conclusion
Scam calls have been increasing yearly, with seniors more vulnerable to falling prey.
You can report a scammer's phone number to the FTC and utilize the Community Phone spam blocker to block unwanted calls. Community Phone has also partnered with Nomorobo, and all customers will get access to the call-blocking features from Nomorobo to block millions of spam calls.