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7 Ways to Protect Yourself From Robocall Scams
Telephone fraud has become a billion dollar industry, and is still growing. Just as the technology these thieves use has become more sophisticated, so have their schemes to get their hands on your money.
The calls are sophisticated, and the callers are clever and determined to part you from your personal details and your hard earned and saved money.
Chances are you probably receive one or more of these robocalls every day. Some of them are just recorded sales messages, but others have crooks on the other end of the line, just waiting for you to answer. Don’t be fooled by these callers! Learn to protect yourself and your money.
Follow these strategies to avoid being a victim of robocall scams:
1.Understand the growth of telemarketing fraud. It’s important to understand that anyone can become a target or a victim of these calls.
Robocalls have made telemarketing fraud skyrocket because live agents aren’t needed. These cheap, fast, and easy calls can still cost you money, so you have to be careful. Robocalls need to be handled cautiously.
Your number may be unlisted, and you may have signed up for a do-not-call list. However, you can still get robocalls.
These systems can automatically generate thousands of random phone numbers, and your number can be on the list. In addition, scammers can use online and other records to find your number.
They can make calls to your landline or your mobile phone, so no number is safe.
2. Avoid pressing numbers. If you pick up the phone and hear a robocall telemarketing message, then don’t press any buttons on your phone.
By pressing a phone button, you’re letting their computer systems know that you’re home. They’ll use this information to keep calling you at this time and try to get your private data.
You also don’t want to select the option of talking to a live agent. Again, they’ll continue calling you and harassing you.
Your safest option is to just hang up the phone. They can often be identified by the pause after you answer, just one or two seconds, sometimes with a buzzing in the background, before you hear a message or a voice. Hang up straight away.
3.Study the common scams and protect yourself with knowledge. Knowledge is your tool to protect your finances.
Robocall scams often fall into common trends and categories. You can research these trends and learn to avoid them. For example, some robocalls claim you owe money to the ATO. This is a common scam that has been confirmed is growing in popularity.
The ATO will not ever cold call you and tell you that you owe money.
Another scam is a supposed phone call from the Australian Federal Police, asking for your help to catch a scammer or hacker. These low-lives are clever. They'll give you names and badge numbers and even email addresses and websites so you can confirm they are who they say they are - all false, all set up to redirect back to the scammers. They'll often have some personal information - your name, your email address, obviously a phone number and sometimes they'll even have bank details - to again confirm they are who they say.
The AFP won't ever cold call you to help with catching scammers. Nor will Telstra or your bank (two more common themes used in scams).
The best thing you can do is hang up. Don’t answer any questions, even with seemingly innocent yes or no answers, don't confirm any information they may have. Just hang up. Then block the number.
4.Understand spoofing. Spoofing refers to companies being able to fake the phone numbers you see on caller ID. Although it can help you avoid some calls, caller ID isn’t enough to protect you.
5.Consider call blocking on your landline. If you’re being harassed by ongoing robocalls from the same number, then you may want to try this idea. Call blocking or barring is available from your phone company, but it may come with fees. Contact your service provider for help - they all vary, but should be able to help you block annoying and/or harassing phone calls. Just remember, you can block the annoying robocalls by blocking that particular number. However, many robocall scammers use multiple numbers, so blocking one usually isn’t enough.
6.Consider filing a complaint with the ACCC. The ACCC pursues companies that make robocalls. It can sue them, fine them, and stop them from calling you and other consumers. The ACCC has forms online or that can be printed out and filled out. If you’re on the National Do Not Call Registry, then you can fill out different forms to complain. https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam
7.Use your mobile phone’s blocking features. Your mobile phone may have special features that let you block calls. You can also look for apps that block robocalls. In addition, there are online services that offer call blocking as well. Many of these apps and services charge a fee. Be sure you know the cost before downloading the app or signing up for a service.
Robocall scams are a common tactic that can cost you money. However, you don’t have to be a victim. Learn to protect yourself and stay safe.
The calls are sophisticated, and the callers are clever and determined to part you from your personal details and your hard earned and saved money.
Chances are you probably receive one or more of these robocalls every day. Some of them are just recorded sales messages, but others have crooks on the other end of the line, just waiting for you to answer. Don’t be fooled by these callers! Learn to protect yourself and your money.
Follow these strategies to avoid being a victim of robocall scams:
1.Understand the growth of telemarketing fraud. It’s important to understand that anyone can become a target or a victim of these calls.
Robocalls have made telemarketing fraud skyrocket because live agents aren’t needed. These cheap, fast, and easy calls can still cost you money, so you have to be careful. Robocalls need to be handled cautiously.
Your number may be unlisted, and you may have signed up for a do-not-call list. However, you can still get robocalls.
These systems can automatically generate thousands of random phone numbers, and your number can be on the list. In addition, scammers can use online and other records to find your number.
They can make calls to your landline or your mobile phone, so no number is safe.
2. Avoid pressing numbers. If you pick up the phone and hear a robocall telemarketing message, then don’t press any buttons on your phone.
By pressing a phone button, you’re letting their computer systems know that you’re home. They’ll use this information to keep calling you at this time and try to get your private data.
You also don’t want to select the option of talking to a live agent. Again, they’ll continue calling you and harassing you.
Your safest option is to just hang up the phone. They can often be identified by the pause after you answer, just one or two seconds, sometimes with a buzzing in the background, before you hear a message or a voice. Hang up straight away.
3.Study the common scams and protect yourself with knowledge. Knowledge is your tool to protect your finances.
Robocall scams often fall into common trends and categories. You can research these trends and learn to avoid them. For example, some robocalls claim you owe money to the ATO. This is a common scam that has been confirmed is growing in popularity.
The ATO will not ever cold call you and tell you that you owe money.
Another scam is a supposed phone call from the Australian Federal Police, asking for your help to catch a scammer or hacker. These low-lives are clever. They'll give you names and badge numbers and even email addresses and websites so you can confirm they are who they say they are - all false, all set up to redirect back to the scammers. They'll often have some personal information - your name, your email address, obviously a phone number and sometimes they'll even have bank details - to again confirm they are who they say.
The AFP won't ever cold call you to help with catching scammers. Nor will Telstra or your bank (two more common themes used in scams).
The best thing you can do is hang up. Don’t answer any questions, even with seemingly innocent yes or no answers, don't confirm any information they may have. Just hang up. Then block the number.
4.Understand spoofing. Spoofing refers to companies being able to fake the phone numbers you see on caller ID. Although it can help you avoid some calls, caller ID isn’t enough to protect you.
5.Consider call blocking on your landline. If you’re being harassed by ongoing robocalls from the same number, then you may want to try this idea. Call blocking or barring is available from your phone company, but it may come with fees. Contact your service provider for help - they all vary, but should be able to help you block annoying and/or harassing phone calls. Just remember, you can block the annoying robocalls by blocking that particular number. However, many robocall scammers use multiple numbers, so blocking one usually isn’t enough.
6.Consider filing a complaint with the ACCC. The ACCC pursues companies that make robocalls. It can sue them, fine them, and stop them from calling you and other consumers. The ACCC has forms online or that can be printed out and filled out. If you’re on the National Do Not Call Registry, then you can fill out different forms to complain. https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam
7.Use your mobile phone’s blocking features. Your mobile phone may have special features that let you block calls. You can also look for apps that block robocalls. In addition, there are online services that offer call blocking as well. Many of these apps and services charge a fee. Be sure you know the cost before downloading the app or signing up for a service.
Robocall scams are a common tactic that can cost you money. However, you don’t have to be a victim. Learn to protect yourself and stay safe.