Telephone scams, also known as robocalls, have been around for decades, but they have become increasingly prevalent in recent years. Scammers use a variety of tactics to trick people into giving them personal information or money and it’s important to be aware of the most common scams so that you can protect yourself. 

In this article, we will discuss:

Technologies effect on Scams

Telephone scams are not a new thing, but technology has allowed them to reach more people and become more sophisticated. In the future, we can expect scammers to continue to use robocalls and caller ID spoofing to trick victims, and use more advanced methods such as AI-powered voice phishing to sound more convincing. It’s important to stay vigilant and stay informed about the latest scams to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Top 18 telephone scams to watch out for:

  1. IRS scam: Scammers posing as the IRS call to demand payment for back taxes, often threatening arrest if the victim doesn’t pay.
  2. Debt collection scam: Scammers claim to be collecting on a debt that the victim doesn’t owe, and demand payment.
  3. Lottery scam: Scammers claim the victim has won a lottery or sweepstakes, but they must pay a fee or taxes to claim the prize.
  4. Tech support scam: Scammers claim to be calling from a tech support company, and try to convince the victim to give them remote access to their computer to fix a problem that doesn’t exist.
  5. Charity scam: Scammers claim to be calling on behalf of a charitable organization and ask for a donation.
  6. Grandparent scam: Scammers call pretending to be a grandchild in distress and ask for money.
  7. Health insurance scam: Scammers claim to be calling from a health insurance company and ask for personal information.
  8. Phishing scam: Scammers ask for personal information over the phone, often pretending to be from a legitimate organization such as a bank or government agency.
  9. Robocall scam: Automated calls that use pre-recorded messages to try to sell a product or service, or to scam the victim.
  10. Employment scam: Scammers claim to be offering a job, but ask for personal information or money to cover training or other expenses.
  11. Business opportunity scam: Scammers claim to be offering a business opportunity, but ask for money to start the business or provide training.
  12. Travel scam: Scammers claim to be offering a great deal on a vacation package, but ask for money to secure the deal.
  13. Home improvement scam: Scammers claim to be offering home improvement services, but ask for money up front, then disappear without doing the work.
  14. Lottery scam: Scammers claim to be affiliated with a lottery and ask the victim to pay a fee to claim a prize they’ve won.
  15. Medicare scam: Scammers claim to be affiliated with Medicare and ask for personal information in order to steal the victim’s identity.
  16. Investment scam: Scammers claim to be offering a great investment opportunity, but ask for money up front, then disappear without providing the promised return on investment.
  17. Sweepstakes scam: Scammers claim the victim has won a sweepstakes, but ask for money to cover taxes or other expenses before they can claim the prize.
  18. Debt relief scam: Scammers claim to be able to help the victim eliminate their debt, but ask for money up front, then disappear without providing the promised service.

It’s important to be aware of these scams and to protect yourself by never giving out personal information over the phone, not answering calls from unknown numbers or numbers that you don’t recognize, and being wary of unsolicited messages or anything that looks suspicious. To help with this, apps like YouMail track top robocalls and scams, and can also block calls from known scam numbers.

Steps you can take to protect yourself from telephone scams

In addition to staying informed and using tools like YouMail to block known scam numbers, there are other steps you can take to protect yourself from telephone scams. Here are a few additional tips:

  • Don’t trust caller ID: Scammers can use caller ID spoofing to make it look like they are calling from a legitimate organization, so don’t trust the caller ID information you see.
  • Be cautious of unsolicited calls: If you receive a call from someone you don’t know, be cautious and don’t give out any personal information.
  • Don’t pay upfront fees: Legitimate organizations or businesses will not ask for money upfront, so be suspicious if someone is asking for money before they provide a service.
  • Hang up if you suspect a scam: If you suspect a call is a scam, hang up and don’t engage with the caller.
  • Report scams to the proper authorities: If you believe you have been a victim of a scam, report it to the proper authorities, such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or your state’s attorney general.
  • Educate yourself and others: Scammers often target vulnerable populations, such as senior citizens, so it’s important to educate yourself and your loved ones about the latest scams and how to protect yourself.

By staying informed and taking steps to protect yourself, you can reduce your risk of falling victim to telephone scams. Remember to always be vigilant, and if you suspect a call is a scam, hang up and don’t engage with the caller.

Telephone scams, also known as robocalls, have become increasingly prevalent in recent years, and it’s important to be aware of the most common scams to protect yourself. Some of the top scams include the IRS scam, debt collection scam, lottery scam, tech support scam, and charity scam. In order to protect yourself, it’s important to never give out personal information over the phone, not answer calls from unknown numbers or numbers that you don’t recognize, and be wary of unsolicited messages or anything that looks suspicious. In addition, apps like YouMail can help by tracking top robocalls and scams, and blocking calls from known scam numbers. It’s important to stay vigilant and stay informed about the latest scams to protect yourself and your loved ones.


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