When you analyze what bothers you the most, spam calls are likely to be at the top of the list. Many telemarketers and automated Robo-callers interrupt you during the worst times. They not just annoy you but also disturbs your work pattern besides making you fall into multiple risks. Unfortunately, these Robo-callers might not stop disturbing you anytime soon even though their schemes comprising millions of dollars rip many people each year. While many people fall prey to these scams, you can avoid them by applying some settings on your phone.
What are spam calls, and where do they come from?
Spam calls usually contain those calls which are not related to our intentions or when we receive impersonal calls. Most of the scammers dial numbers according to their targeted area codes or may pick random people to sell their companies’ products which are usually fake. Scammers buy these numbers from legitimate sources such as malls or supermarkets and can further sell them to third parties in exchange for money. When speaking of scam calls, there are four kinds of scam calls that bothers many people worldwide including:
Random scam call: this is the most common scam call where a live person tries to defraud you with various methods. For instance, they may offer you a specialised massage service or car cleaning. This kind of scam call may even claim that they have kidnapped a member of your family by tracking your family members’ daily routine. Tech blog says, Such calls have been there for several years and have increased unfortunately due to the simplicity of the technology and prevalence of hackers.
The scammers use VOIP or voice-over-internet protocol that can make thousands of calls in an hour. With caller ID spoofing machines, these numbers might not get displayed on your mobile screens like a legitimate numbers but can be made out easily. And whenever they appear, just block them immediately to avoid trouble.
Telemarketing: these calls include marketing-related calls that companies make with the help of tele-callers. They usually try selling products or services which might be legitimate. Although telemarketing calls are not spoofed completely, they can prove annoying at times.
Legal robocalls: There are many types of legal robocalls, including notifications, services, and bills. There is nothing inherently spam about a robocall. There are legitimate robocalls from doctor’s offices to confirm appointments, debt collectors to collect money, charities to contact previous donors, and schools to inform about upcoming events.
Illegal robocalls: Numerous prepared messages that you didn’t choose to receive are included in illegal robocalls. This category covers calls like a dubious vehicle warranty call, student loan fraud, or a call that advised individuals not to vote during the presidential election. You may be required to push a button to connect to a real person in some situations, such as the auto-warranty call before they try to deceive you.
How can you get rid of spam calls?
Although you cannot stop scammers from making scam calls, you can definitely stop them on your phone by using simple techniques which include:
Registering for the do not call or do not disturb list
This is the easiest way to reduce scam calls on your phone by applying for do not disturb or do not call with your telecom company. This will cut down legitimate scam calls. However, illegal scam calls may still bother you since they are random and are unknown to telecom companies as well.
Downloading a free scam-blocking app on your smartphone
Many countries have allowed apps to provide phone users with benefits such as blocking scam calls without bothering users. These apps may also come with several additional features like protecting your phone from illegal calls. These apps have in fact reduced scam calls to a great extent on many phones but have not yet made any phone completely free from scam calls. So, be mindful to check reviews before downloading them on your phone and whenever you expect an important call, turn them off for safer use.
Ask your telecom company for free or paid apps
Many popular telecom companies offer a call-blocking app which is usually free but its paid version can be bought by sensitive industry people. All you need to do is activate call blocking on your phone after installing the app by entering your phone number and getting a PIN. Make sure to select the free plan instead of the default paid plan. Tap the Block tab, select Spam Risk, and then enable blocking once the app has been installed.
What to do if you’ve been scammed?
Even if you review and try various tricks and strategies, it is feasible that you may still receive scam calls on your phone. In reality, scam calls will never disappear completely but might get reduced or the scammers may use different ways to get back to you. So, what should you do in case you receive a scam call accidentally?
The best thing to do when you receive a scam call is not to answer them at all. If you answer their calls, your number might get listed as a good number by the scamsters and you will get scam calls more often. They will try harder since you would seem convincing to them. Hence, the fewer you answer, the few scams call you will get.
However, with time and technology, making out whether a number is legal or scammed has become quite difficult. Since spoof callers deliberately modify their number or name when calling, even systems and apps get confused to block them or not. Many spoofers would mimic a real company’s name or talk to you like an acquaintance, and when you tap the answer button, they do their scamming job. You can minimise the risks of these scam calls by following the below-mentioned tips:
Hang up as soon as you realise that the call is a scam
Once you realise, do not hesitate to disconnect the scam call at once. The lesser you engage, the better will be the chances for you to avoid risks. If you react, they might label you active and call often.
Never use the term yes in suspicious calls
Most of the robocalls will ask you questions which will result in ‘yes’ by people without even thinking twice. They store your recorded voice and may use it for various scandalous purposes. So, avoid using words such as ‘yes’ or your name as much as possible.
Never follow the bot’s instruction
Unless you have dialled a legitimate source for a specific reason, never follow the bot’s instructions over the phone. By following their instruction, you agree to Robo-callers and they might use you to do different works which can lead you to problems.
Report and exercise actions
Once you receive scam calls you can report them to law enforcement bodies. The calls might be dangerous and with your help, the lawmakers could track the scammers behind the call. Exercising caution is also very important due to the rise in scam calls. Even though these robocalls might not ask for your credit card or bank account number, they can still waste your significant time. So, every time you receive a call, spare some time in analysing the caller id and see if they are legitimate or a spoof.