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Identify scam calls and report scammers to authorities
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When you get a phone call and the person on the other end makes you promises that seem too good to be true or threatens you with legal action if you don't pay them money, you are likely dealing with a scam. It's important to report scam numbers to the proper authorities so the scammer doesn't claim any more victims. This wikiHow article will teach you how to report scam phone numbers to the FTC, FBI, your cellular provider, and impersonated companies and and companies.
Things You Should Know
- Report scam phone numbers to the FTC by calling 1-877-382-4357 or by filling out their online form.
- You can also contact the FBI, Federal Communications Agency (FCC), and your local law enforcement.
- Contact any businesses that a scammer is impersonating and report to them as well.
Steps
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Report the scam to your consumer protection agency. In the US, you should contact the Federal Trade Commission either by phone or through their online reporting system. If you suspect the scam involves calls from outside of your country, you report international scams to the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN).
- The website for reporting international scams to the ICPEN is: https://www.econsumer.gov .
Tip: It's important to report phone scams to your consumer protection agency in part because accurate reports help them track patterns of fraud.
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Contact the agency that oversees phone communications. In the US, this is the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). You can report scam phone calls to the FTC through their online complaint form. By contacting the FTC, you are helping the agency to track down and disable numbers that are being used for illegal and fraudulent activities. [1] X Trustworthy Source USA.GOV Official website for the United States federal government Go to source
- The website to submit a report to the FTC is https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/
- You can also contact the FTC by phone at 1-877-382-4357
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Report fraud calls to the FCC. In addition to submitting a fraud report to the FTC, you can also submit fraud calls to the Federal Communications Agency. [2] X Research source
- The web address for the FCC online complaint form is: https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us/articles/115002234203-Unwanted-Calls-Phone- .
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File a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau if the scam is financial. Any scam call that attempts to get your financial information or is related to your mortgage, bank accounts, credit account, or loan risks your financial security. The complaint can be filed on their website. [3] X Trustworthy Source USA.GOV Official website for the United States federal government Go to source
- It is the job of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to protect your interests when it comes to this kind of scam.
- Complaints can be filed at: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/ .
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Contact law-enforcement bureaus that deal with scams. Your local Attorney General’s office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are the law-enforcement agencies that deal with most scams. Call their general number or contact them online about scam calls that you have received.
- The website to contact the FBI at is https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us .
- Your Attorney General's contact information can be found by doing an online search that includes the name of your state and the words "attorney general contact information."
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Email the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) if you have received scam calls impersonating them. There are a lot of phone scammers that say they are representatives of the IRS and that you need to pay the for back taxes or face arrest. If you get one of these calls, send the IRS an email at phishing@irs.gov with the subject line saying "IRS Phone Scam." The email should contain: [4] X Trustworthy Source Internal Revenue Service U.S. government agency in charge of managing the Federal Tax Code Go to source
- The caller's telephone number
- The telephone number you were told to call
- A brief description of the call
- The exact date and time that you received the call
- Where you received the call (exact location and time zone)
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Contact the Social Security Agency if you suspect identity theft. It is easiest to report this kind of problem to the Office of the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration. The website to report fraud is https://www.ssa.gov/fraudreport/oig/public_fraud_reporting/form.htm . [5] X Trustworthy Source USA.GOV Official website for the United States federal government Go to source
- Calls that could signal potential identity theft include those that request your personal information, including your social security number or bank account numbers. The caller may say you owe medical bills or that you have debt that you don't have and that you need to supply information to clear it up.
- Scams that should be reported to the SSA include calls that state that they are representing the SSA and those that try to get your social security number from you.
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Contact agencies and businesses that are named during the scam call. If the scammer names a specific company, it's a good idea to call the customer service number of that actual company to let them know that their name is being used fraudulently. This is also true for a governmental agency. For instance, if someone calls you and wants your personal information for the census bureau, call the census bureau and tell them that someone is impersonating them for personal gain. [6] X Research source
Tip: The correct number to call depends on the specific company. However, you can typically find the customer service number by doing an online search for the company's name and the words "customer service."
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Make a report to your telephone provider to get scam calls blocked. If you keep getting scam calls, it's a good idea to let the phone company know that the number is being used for illegal activity. Some providers can block the scammer's number and may be able to work with the FCC to stop the scam from continuing with other people.
- Call the general customer service number of your phone company and tell the operator that you are trying to report a number being used for a scam.
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Suspect a scam call if the person threatens you with legal action if you don't pay them. There are many scam callers that claim to be with the IRS, a law enforcement, or a financial institution and use fear to get your money. They claim that unless you pay them you will be in legal trouble. These calls are scams and you should hang up the phone if you get one.
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Be suspicious of calls that claim you have won a prize, lottery, or award from a charity. A classic phone scam is one that claims you won a prize or award and you just need to pay the shipping cost, taxes, or related fees to claim it. The scammer then asks for your financial information. If you get an unsolicited call like this, it is a scam and you should hang up the phone.
Warning: While it may be tempting to believe that you really have won a prize, remember that if you fall for a scam, it can cost you a lot more than you might have won.
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Identify common things scammers say. There are a variety of standard lines that scammers use to lure you into giving them money or information. If you hear any of these lines, suspect a scam right away and hang up your phone: [7] X Trustworthy Source Federal Trade Commission Website with up-to-date information for consumers from the Federal Trade Commisson Go to source
- "You've been selected for a special offer."
- "Buy our product and get a special bonus prize."
- "You've won a valuable prize."
- "You've just won money in a lottery."
- "We're looking for investors in a low-risk, high-return investment."
- "To get this great offer you need to make up your mind right away."
- "You trust me, don't you?"
- "There's no need to check our company out with anyone."
- "We just need to put the shipping and handling charges on your credit card."
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Beware of calls that claim to be from a loved one in an emergency. In this scam, a scammer calls an individual and claims to be a loved one who needs money for an emergency. They may say they've been in an accident or have been arrested. Sometimes they will hand the phone off to someone who claims to be a lawyer or doctor. With advancements in technology, scammers now have the ability to spoof caller ID and even impersonate a person's voice.
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Scammers often claim to be government agencies. In this scam, a scammer calls and claims they are from the IRS, the Social Security Administration, or the Census bureau. They will often claim you owe them money or are in legal trouble, and try to get you to give over your personal information, such as your Social Security number or bank account. They may also claim that you qualify for a government grant and they need your bank account in order to deposit the money. If you receive a call like this, hang up, and call the agency directly to inquire about the call.
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Watch out for health insurance provider scams. Scammers often call senior citizens claiming they are from a health insurance company or Medicare. They will claim they are signing the target up for health insurance when in reality, they are stealing all their personal information. Avoid signing up for any healthcare services when you receive a phone call out of nowhere.
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Customer service scams are growing in numbers. If you receive a call from somebody claiming to be a customer service representative for a major company, be careful. In this scam, the scammer calls you and says they work for a major company, such as your cable company or cellular provider. They will try to get you to give them your personal information, claim there is a problem with your account and they need your login information to fix it, or that they need your bank account or credit card to fix a problem
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Never provide personal details to a random call from a bank employee. In this scam, a scammer calls and claims they work for your bank. They may claim they need your credit card or bank account to fix a problem. They may claim you have overdrawn your account and that you need to deposit money.
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Trust your instincts. Often scammers rely on making people feel guilty for suspecting a scam. However, if you get a call and something just doesn't feel right, hang up the phone. Overall, it's just always better to be safe than sorry. [8] X Trustworthy Source Federal Trade Commission Website with up-to-date information for consumers from the Federal Trade Commisson Go to source
- If you are suspicious of a call from a company but you're scared that the caller might be telling the truth, simply tell them you are going hang up the phone and call the company yourself. If the caller is above board, they should have no problem with you doing this.
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Block individual numbers. If you keep getting unwanted calls on your smartphone from the same number, it's possible to block the caller in the future. Go into your call records in your phone and tap the button that says "block this caller" or whatever other similar phrase your phone app uses. After you hit that button, the blocked number won't be allowed to connect to your number.
- In many cases, scammers use a wide variety of numbers to run their scams, so this technique won't keep scammers at bay for long. However, it will make getting through slightly more difficult.
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Block all unknown callers. If you are tired of getting calls from numbers you don't know, set your smartphone up so it sends unknown callers straight to your voicemail. If you have a landline, you can call your phone provider and ask them to block unknown callers . Many scam callers will not stay on the line to leave a message and you will not have your phone ringing all the time with annoying scam calls.
- The downside of this technique for blocking scam calls is that businesses you are dealing with will not be able to get a hold of you directly.
- If your phone number is a business line, you may not be able to do this. It is a better technique for a personal phone line.
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Put your phone number on the federal Do Not Call Registry. This is a national registry for those that live in the US and who do not want unsolicited calls. You can join this list by calling (888) 382-1222 or by registering online at https://www.donotcall.gov .
- There are a variety of organizations that are not required to follow the Do Not Call Registry. This includes organizations and businesses who have an established relationship with you, non-profit organizations, and those businesses or organizations that you have given contact permission to.
Tip: If you do get calls after you put your number on the list, you can file a complaint with the FTC at https://www.ftc.gov/complaint or 1-888-382-1222.
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Install call-blocking software on your smartphone. If you get scam calls continually, it's probably worth your while to install an app that blocks unlisted and unnamed callers. These apps are available for most brands of smartphones and typically only have a small cost to purchase them.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow can I report a scammer that keeps calling me?Scott Nelson is a Police Sergeant with the Mountain View Police Department in California. He is also a practicing attorney for Goyette & Associates, Inc. where he represents public employees with a myriad of labor issues throughout the state. He has over 15 years of experience in law enforcement and specializes in digital forensics. Scott has received extensive training through the National Computer Forensics Institute and holds forensic certifications from Cellbrite, Blackbag, Axiom Forensics, and others. He earned a Master of Business Administration from the California State University Stanislaus and a Juris Doctorate from the Laurence Drivon School of Law.It really depends on where you live. The laws surrounding scam call reporting are constantly changing these days, so it can be kind of hard to figure out who you're supposed to talk to. Your best bet is to call your local police department and ask them. They'll direct you to the proper agency where you live.
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References
- ↑ https://www.usa.gov/common-scams-frauds
- ↑ https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us/articles/205082880-Filing-a-Complaint-Questions-and-Answers
- ↑ https://www.usa.gov/stop-scams-frauds
- ↑ https://www.irs.gov/privacy-disclosure/report-phishing
- ↑ https://www.usa.gov/stop-scams-frauds
- ↑ http://www.consumerfraudreporting.org/reporting.php
- ↑ https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0076-phone-scams
- ↑ https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0076-phone-scams
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