Spammers and scammers have resorted to caller ID spoofing to mask their identities and to get consumers to pick up the telephone.
We have all received robocalls, those annoying recorded calls that try to sell us something or try to scam us. The Federal Trade Commission received 4.5 million complaints about these unwanted calls in 2017, and they estimate that consumers receive 98 million robocalls daily.
Many people will not answer the telephone when an unfamiliar number pops up in caller ID, so spammers and scammers have resorted to caller ID spoofing to mask their identities and to get consumers to pick up the telephone. Neighbor spoofing makes it appear that the call is coming from a phone in the same area. The scammers know that if it appears that a call is coming from a neighbor, or from a government agency, people may be more likely to answer. The Federal Trade Commission says, “The urge to answer can be tough to resist, since you might worry it’s a neighbor who needs help, or the school nurse.”
The Truth in Caller ID Act prohibits the transmission of misleading or inaccurate caller ID information with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongly obtain anything of value. That means that absent malicious intent, caller ID spoofing is legal. So why would someone do this if they are not being malicious? There are legitimate reasons to use spoofing. For example, a doctor responding to after-hours calls might want the call to appear to come from his office number and not his home phone or personal mobile phone. Someone fleeing an abusive relationship may not want to reveal their phone number or location information to anyone, even their own family members. Caller ID spoofing offers privacy. Of course, callers could choose to hide their caller ID information, but that does not always work and it may mean that their calls are rejected by people who automatically block calls without valid caller ID.
How can you protect yourself from robocalls, especially those using caller ID spoofing? These tips are from the Better Business Bureau:
- Don’t answer calls from unfamiliar numbers, even if they appear to be local. If it’s important, the caller will leave a message.
- Your phone number may be used in a caller ID spoof call, which can lead to calls and messages from people wanting to know why you called them. Understanding how scammers use caller ID spoofing may help explain the situation.
- You may receive phone calls that appear to come from local businesses, including doctors’ offices and/or insurance agents. If you do not know whether the call is legitimate, hang up and call the known phone number for the contact, especially if personal information is being requested.
- Call blocking apps may decrease the number of spam calls, including those using a spoofed caller ID. Your phone carrier may provide a similar service or be able to advise you.
- Add your phone number to the National Do Not Call Registry. It probably won’t prevent scam calls, but it should reduce the number of calls coming from legitimate telemarketers, which can be helpful in identifying fraudulent calls.
