Spammers are getting more sophisticated daily, making it tough to tell legitimate and scam calls apart. If you answer a spam call, there's a good chance you could end up losing money or personal information.
What happens if you answer a spam call? According to a recent study, if you answer a spam call, the odds are that you'll get scammed. So, it is essential to report a scam phone number.
This article will cover the following:
- What are spam calls?
- What happens if you answer a spam call?
- Automated and manual solutions to protect yourself from spam calls.
What Happens if You Answer a Spam Call?
Many people wonder what will happen if they answer a spam call. Here's what can happen:
1. Your Identity Can Be Stolen
Scammers may pretend to be from a legitimate organization or government agency you trust and try to get information from you, such as - your Social Security number, credit card number, or bank account number.
They may also ask for your date of birth, your mother's maiden name or other information to steal your identity.
They can use this information to open new accounts in your name, make charges on your existing accounts, or apply for loans.
2. You May Have to Pay a Hefty Phone Bill
Sometimes, even if you don't answer a scam call, you could still be inadvertently giving money to scammers. That's because many spam calls originate from high-cost international phone lines.
If you accidentally call back or connect to one of these numbers, you'll be responsible for a hefty phone bill. And the scammer on the other end will make money off of you. So next time you get a spam call, just let it go to voicemail.
3. Lose Time
Most people know that spam calls are a massive waste of time. Every second you spend on a spam call is a second you could have spent doing something productive. And once those seconds add up, they can negatively impact your life.
4. Risk of Losing Money
Unfortunately, if you fall for scams that target your bank information, you may lose your bank details and money. Be aware of these scams and never give out personal banking information to someone who calls you unsolicited to protect yourself.
Banks do not ask for such information over the phone, as they already have your details. Hang up if you suspect a caller, and report the number to the authorities. By taking these simple precautions, you can protect yourself and your hard-earned money.
5. Risk of Paying for Things You Never Bought
Scammers may use your stolen card or bank details to buy expensive items you can't afford, and you'll be stuck with the bill. Worse, you may never even receive the purchased items, as the scammers will retain them.
6. Risk of Becoming Spammer's target
If you engage with a spammer, they will likely label you an easy target. They will attempt to scam you more frequently, believing you are more likely to fall for their schemes.
7. Risk of Identity Being Sold
Spammers often sell people's identities to other spammers. So, if you do interact with a spammer, your information could be distributed to other scammers, and you will be targeted even more frequently.
It's best to ignore any spammer attempts to reach out, as engaging with them will only worsen things in the long run.
Getting So Many Spam Calls? Here Are Some Reasons Why
You may be wondering why you've been getting a lot of spam calls lately. There are a few reasons why your number might have become a target for scammers.
1. Your Number is Sold in Scammer Groups
One possibility is that your number was sold to a scammer group. These groups are often created on social media platforms and auction websites, where scammers can buy and sell lists of phone numbers.
Another reason for the influx of spam calls could be number spoofing, where they use a caller ID that looks like a local number but is a dubious overseas call.
2. You May have picked up a Spam Call
Is answering a spam call bad? Yes, spam phone calls are a nuisance, and they seem to increase in number. If you've been getting a lot of calls from unknown numbers, there's a good chance you've been targeted by spam callers, as you may have answered one of those calls.
3. Your Number is Public
Your number may be public if you're getting a lot of spam calls. There is a fair chance you gave someone your number and passed it along. These calls won't stop unless you make them private again.
Download Community Phone’s FREE Spam Blocking App
Community Phone now offers a free spam-blocking app for iOS devices, providing the best protection against unwanted calls. It blocks spam calls on your cell phone and landline before either phone rings, giving you peace of mind.
The Community Phone app has advanced features, such as notifications to alert you about the numbers it blocks. It has been carefully designed to ensure complete user satisfaction and convenience.
The Community Phone spam-blocking app is completely free to download from the Apple store, ensuring that everyone can protect their phones from annoying spam calls. Once installed, Community Phone works in the background to monitor incoming calls and blocks any suspicious activity.
The Community Phone app is incredibly easy to use, allowing users to customize settings according to their preferences. You can choose what type of calls you want Community Phone to block. Landline users can also set up a whitelist for specific contacts in the app, so Community Phone's filters will not block them.
Thanks to its advanced algorithms and AI-backed technology, what sets Community Phone apart from other spam-blocking apps is its ability to block even unknown numbers. This ensures complete safety and security while using the Community Phone app. In addition, Community Phone has many other features, such as real-time monitoring, caller name recognition, call stats tracking, and more!
Overall, Community Phone’s FREE Spam Blocking App provides an effective solution against annoying spam calls without compromising performance or reliability. Its optimized features and intuitive interface make blocking unwanted calls a breeze!
FAQs
How do I stop getting so many spam calls?
To stop getting spam calls, you can:
- Get the Community Phone spam call-blocker, or get the optional whitelisting service. Call Community Phone customer care at 866-407-8427 to learn more.
- Register on the National Do Not Call List by calling 1-888-382-1222 (voice) or 1-866-290-4236 (text). Calling from the phone number you want to register with is required.
- There is also the option to register at donotcall.gov.
What happens if you call back a spam number?
If you return a spam call, your call will be routed to an expensive overseas number. You will be responsible for paying for that call, while the con artist will pocket the cash. It is, thus, not advisable to call back a number that has been identified as spam. You should block the number and report it.
Should I answer Spam calls?
You should not answer spam calls. Scam artists will see you as a "good target" if you pick up the phone when they contact you and continue bothering you.
Get the Community Phone spam blocker to block 99% of spam calls automatically.
What are spam calls trying to do?
Stealing your money or personal information is the intended goal of those annoying "spam" calls. They often pose as reputable businesses in an attempt to trick you. They will also attempt to get private information from you, such as your bank account or credit card numbers.
Conclusion
Don't become a victim of phone scammers. You must also report the scam phone number to prevent further incidences.
Getting the Community Phone automated spam blocker service can be a long-term solution, as you can block 99% of robocalls. Don't worry about missing important calls; they will go straight to voicemail, and you can respond to them after due diligence. Talk to Community Phone's landline specialists now!