Beware of Phone Scams Like ID Spoofing

The Internet is a safe haven for scammers, giving them the anonymity they need to cause disruption. This overshadows more classic modes of scamming, such as the telephone. With the innovation of caller ID, we know who’s calling; but who’s to say that they are really who the caller ID says they are?

Scammers have discovered ways to fake their caller ID by using the identities of professional organizations, such as banks, credit card companies, and more. The idea is to use a name which will convince the receiver to answer the phone and fork over valuable information. In fact, according to USA Today, last year saw an increase of over 50 percent for fraudulent phone calls in just a six month period, bringing the total number of scam phone calls made to over 1 million.

This is especially dangerous if the caller is a professional con artist. One of the worst ways a hacker uses their unique set of “skills” is to convince you that they are a bank representative, and they’ll try to convince you to tell them all about your financial information. Their ultimate goal in this scenario is to clean out your bank account, along with your hopes and dreams.

Phone scammers are using this new phone spoofing technology to find new ways to gain access to your credentials, leaving you in the dark and out of cash. Previously, a quick glance at your phone could tell you if the number was unrecognized, giving you reason enough to not pick up the phone. But how can you know not to answer the phone if a familiar name pops up? In an age where social media is king, the scammer knows exactly what you are up to, emphasizing the importance of taking phone scamming seriously, even with today’s improved technology.

One favorite phone scam takes advantage of others’ support for charities. If your business has recently donated to charity, or perhaps published a press release or blog article about all of the great stuff you have done to support local businesses or causes, scammers can take advantage of this. Con artists can potentially pose as your favorite charity requesting a follow-up donation. This is, unfortunately, the world we live in; where the kindness of others is exploited by hackers and scammers around the world.

Phone scammers also tend to target major corporations, perhaps due to the immense wealth they accumulate. Unfortunately, hackers use a corporation’s size to their advantage. When a business grows, they naturally hire more employees, and might even acquire multiple offices around the country. This increases the chances that local manages might not be familiar with the higher-ups. This allows scammers to pose as important executives with whom the local manager might not have ever spoken to before.

This complicates things when you’re trying to protect your business from scams. After all, how can you protect yourself from something you can’t even see? When you aren’t sure if your current phone call is a scam or not, it’s important to trust your instincts. If it’s a potentially important business deal, hang up the phone and give them a call back on their official telephone line that you have on record. In this case, it’s far better to be safe than sorry.

You can also try investing in some technology which can identify the location of the caller, such as a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) solution. These solutions allow your business to identify where in the world the phone call is coming from. So, for instance, a caller from New Mexico is posing as a valuable business partner in Pennsylvania, you’ll know without a shadow of a doubt that the call is a scammer.

Being cautious in a world with so many threats is your best bet. Computerware can equip your business with a potent VoIP solution and analytics tools which can help your business stay safe from phone scammers. For more information about these solutions or how to keep your business safe, give us a call at (703) 821-8200.