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Phone Scams

We may have entered the digital age, but the telephone remains a key weapon in scammers' arsenals. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received about 1.8 million fraud complaints in 2021 in which a contact method was identified, and in 36 percent of cases a call was the swindler’s way in. Once they get you on the line, phone scammers use false promises, aggressive sales pitches and phony threats to pry loose information they can use to steal your money or identity (or both). Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. It’s easy to understand why crooks love to dial you up. Based on the results of a March 2021 survey, call-security app maker that some 59 million Americans lost money to a phone scam in the previous 12 months. According to FTC data, the median loss in scams that start with a call is $1,200, higher than for any other method of contact. Technology has made this illicit work easy. With auto dialers, shady operators can blast out by the millions for just a few dollars a day. Readily available spoofing tools can trick your caller ID into displaying a genuine government or corporate number, or one that appears to be local, to increase the chances that you’ll answer. Whether live or automated, scam callers often pose as representatives of or familiar , , retail or financial companies, supposedly calling with valuable information. It might be good news. (You’re eligible for a big cash prize! You’ve been preselected for this great vacation deal!) It might be bad. (You owe back taxes. There’s a problem with your credit card account.) Whatever the issue, it can be resolved if you’ll just, say, provide your Social Security number or make an immediate payment. or even , playing on your generosity or family bonds to get you to fork over money. And, like the rest of us, they're . Nearly 3 in 5 respondents to the Truecaller survey reported receiving a pandemic-related scam call or in the previous 12 months as crooks sought to exploit people's fears for their health and financial well-being.

Warning Signs

Unsolicited calls from people claiming to work for a government agency, or major tech firm, like Microsoft or Apple. These companies and institutions will rarely call you unless they have first communicated by other means or you have contacted them.Unsolicited calls from charity fundraisers, especially and after .Calls pitching products or services with terms that sound too good to be true. Common scam offers include free product trials, cash prizes, cheap travel packages, medical devices, preapproved loans, , and low-risk, high-return .An automated sales call from a company you have not authorized to contact you. That’s an illegal robocall and almost certainly a scam. (Automated calls are permitted for some informational or non-commercial purposes — for example, from political campaigns or nonprofit groups like AARP.) Groceries 20% off a Freshly meal delivery subscription See more Groceries offers >

How to protect yourself from this scam

Do put your phone number on the FTC’s . It won’t stop spam calls, but it will make them easier to spot because most legitimate telemarketers won’t call you if you’re on the registry.Do consider using a call-blocking mobile app or device to screen your calls and weed out spam and scams. You can also ask your phone-service provider if it offers any blocking tools.Do hang up on illegal robocalls.Do slow down and ask questions of telemarketers. Legitimate businesses and charities will answer questions and give you time to consider a purchase or donation. Scam callers will pressure you to commit right away.Do independently research travel deals, charities or business and investment opportunities you hear about by phone. AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe , prepaid debit card or wire transfer. Fraudsters favor these methods because they are hard to trace.

More Resources

If you encounter a suspected phone scam or an abusive telemarketer, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, or at 877-382-4357, and notify your .Report caller-ID spoofing to the Federal Communications Commission, or at 888-225-5322. The FCC also provides to numerous phone scams and improper practices.Visit the Do Not Call Registry or call 888-382-1222 to register your number or report illegal robocalls. MORE FROM AARP Scam Tracking Map No matter where you live, fraud is never far away. Report a scam or search for existing scams near you. AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS