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Everything you need to know about "Scam Likely" calls
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Have you been seeing a lot of "Scam Likely" calls on your phone and wondered if it's actually a scammer calling you? "Scam Likely" on your caller ID is pretty accurate, so the call is likely unwanted and could be someone trying to scam you. In this article we'll go over "Scam Likely" calls, including what to do if you pick up a scam call and how to fix your number being marked as a scam number.
What a "Scam Likely" Call Means
"Scam Likely" on your caller ID means the number calling you is likely a scammer. Avoid answering these calls, as picking up the phone can signify that your number is active and can lead to even more scam calls. If you pick up a scam likely phone call, hang up immediately.
Steps
Section 2 of 4:
What to Do If You Answer a Scam Call
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Hang up. If you pick up a call from a "Scam Likely" or unidentified number, the safest thing to do is immediately hang up. Don't give the caller time to say anything and don't respond to any instructions, because this will increase the chances that the scammer marks your number as active. [4] X Research source
- If you're expecting a call from a number not in your contacts list, you can check your call log to see which number called you. If the number is unfamiliar, don't call them back.
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Don't say anything, especially the word "yes." Scammers may ask you a question at the start of the call, such as "Can you hear me?" If you say yes, they may save the recording of you saying "yes" and use it without you knowing. [5] X Research source
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Never give out personal information. If a scammer is asking for your full name, address, social security number, credit card information, or any other piece of personal information, do not give it to them.
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Never send money to a phone scammer. Even if the scammer is threatening you, don't send them money. Phone scammers are relying on you to panic and send the money out of fear, so they may pressure you to think quickly so you give in.
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Report the caller to the FTC. Go to the FTC Do Not Call Registry page and click Report Unwanted Calls . Provide as much information as possible about the call when submitting your report.
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Contact the appropriate authorities if you gave a scammer money. If you already paid the person behind the scam call, you will need to contact the following authorities based on how you paid: [6] X Trustworthy Source Federal Trade Commission Website with up-to-date information for consumers from the Federal Trade Commisson Go to source
- Credit or debit card: Contact your bank or card issuer and let them know there was a fraudulent charge on your account and that you need it reversed.
- Gift card: Contact the gift card issuer and explain the situation. Ask for your money back. Be sure to keep a copy of the gift card and receipt.
- Wire transfer: Contact your bank or the wire transfer company and explain that you sent a fraudulent transfer and that you need the transfer reversed.
- Payment app: If you used money stored in the payment app, contact the app and explain the situation and that you need the payment reversed. If you used a credit or debit card connected to your payment app, contact your bank or card issuer instead of the payment app.
- Cryptocurrency: Contact the company you used to send the cryptocurrency and explain the situation, and ask for the payment to be reversed.
- Cash: If you sent cash via the United States Postal Service, call the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (877-876-2455). Explain the situation and ask if they can intercept the package. If you used a different delivery service, call that service immediately and explain the situation, then ask for next steps.
- Unauthorized bank transfer: Contact your bank and let them know there was an unauthorized transfer or debit from your account, then ask them to reverse the transaction.
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Contact the appropriate authorities if you gave a scammer information. If you already gave the caller your information, you will need to do one of the following:
- Username and password: Change your username and password immediately. If your email account is attached to the account, change the username and password of every account also connected to that email (as well as the email account's username and password too). Consider using a password manager to set up strong passwords that are different for each website.
- Social Security Number: Go to https://www.identitytheft.gov/ and report what happened to get assistance for your situation.
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Section 3 of 4:
How to Stop Scam Likely Calls
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Don't pick up calls from numbers you don't know. If a legitimate person is calling you, they will likely leave a message. If you're expecting a call from a number that you don't have in your contacts list, consider adding the number to your contacts, even if it's just temporarily.
- Some scam callers will leave messages. However, these messages are usually silent or the caller is a robotic voice. The contents of the message are also usually suspicious, such as a warning about not making a payment for a service you're not signed up for, or a notification of a purchase that you know you didn't make.
- According to Luigi Oppido, computer and tech specialist, scammers are becoming more and more sophisticated. "The scams are getting very, very intricate," Oppido says. This makes them easier to fall for. Avoiding scam calls altogether is the best way to avoid losing money or your personal information.
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Don't interact with a scam caller if you pick up. If you accidentally pick up a scam likely call, hang up immediately. Don't say anything and don't follow any instructions the scammer gives you. If the caller says to press a button to stop getting the calls, don't do it, as it may actually make the calls happen more often.
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Utilize your phone's scam blocking features. Both iPhones and Androids have some features that allow you to silence scam calls. They won't block the calls completely, but they won't notify you that they're occurring.
- iPhone: Go to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers
- Android: Set the Phone by Google app as your default phone app. Then, within the Phone by Google app, open the app's settings and go to Spam and Call Screen . Toggle on See caller & spam ID and Filter spam calls .
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Utilize your carrier's scam blocking options. Both mobile and landline carriers have options to block scam calls. For mobile providers, they usually have an app you can download to help block more scam calls. If you want to block scam calls on your landline, contact your provider for more information.
- AT&T: ActiveArmor app
- T-Mobile: ScamShield app
- U.S. Cellular: Call Guardian app
- Verizon: Call Filter app
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References
- ↑ https://www.expressvpn.com/blog/what-is-spam-risk/
- ↑ https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/stop-unwanted-robocalls-and-texts
- ↑ https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/12/how-are-robocallers-getting-your-phone-number
- ↑ https://www.verizon.com/about/account-security/robocalls
- ↑ https://usa.kaspersky.com/resource-center/definitions/what-are-robocalls
- ↑ https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/phone-scams#whattodo
- ↑ https://www.spectrum.net/support/home-phone/my-phone-number-coming-spam
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