The Most Common Phone Call Scams and How to Handle Them

Identity theft is one of the most widespread problems in the United States, with the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) reporting over 1 million cases each year. One common method used by criminals is phone scams, where they trick people through calls, texts, or other tactics to steal personal information. For example, in a scam called Bluesnarfing, attackers steal data from your phone or laptop through a Bluetooth connection.

After email scams, phone call scams are the next most common. Cybercriminals use various tricks to deceive even the most cautious people. If you receive repeated calls from unusual numbers, think twice before answering. Scammers may also send fake bank messages or pretend to be someone you know to gain your trust.

Below are some of the most common phone call scams you should be aware of:

1. Bluetooth Phone Call Scams

Don’t keep Bluetooth on when you are not using it. Hackers can misuse it through tricks like Bluejacking or Bluesnarfing to steal data. In some cases, scammers can even take control of your phone, a method called Bluebugging. So be aware of this risk by toggling off your Bluetooth when you’re outside and not in use. Always update your device, since outdated software makes you more vulnerable.

2. Prize Scams

You might get an email or text claiming you’ve won a contest or lottery. After that, they will congratulate you on winning and then ask for your personal information to deposit the cash you’ve won. This gives scammers access to your bank details, which they can use to empty your account.

3. App/QR Code Scam

Malware can sometimes sneak onto your phone through apps on trusted platforms like Google Play or the Apple App Store. However, these platforms may fail to eliminate harmful apps over time.

Fraudsters also insert QR codes into emails and replace the original ones with corrupted ones. Some scammers even place fake QR codes on public parking meters to trick people into making fraudulent payments.

You can’t determine a QR code’s safety by looking at it, so it’s important to be cautious and verify before scanning. A QR code on a restaurant table is expected, but one from a random wall might be suspicious.

4. Bank Scams

These are the most popular scams, where you receive a text message or call asking for your personal bank information. Scammers will reach out to you through a message or a call, saying that they need to verify your recent transactions, to alert you to suspicious activity, or unfreeze your account. Once the scammers get your data, they have access to your funds.

5. Social Security Scams

During these scams, you might receive a call, email, or text claiming to be from the Social Security office, threatening to seize your bank account, steal your Social Security number, or demand extra payments.

They might appear legitimate at first by gaining your trust and showing part of your security number. And then they will ask you for your complete number or any bank information to steal your money. 

6. Spoofing/Phishing Scams

With new AI tools, scammers are using advanced tricks to fool people. They manage to link the name of the original company to their phone number and use voice cloning to trick the person into making a similar sound. They claim to be government officials and send emails or spam text messages that are carefully crafted, including links to download malware. Downloading such malware or clicking on such links will take you directly to some suspicious websites that ask for your credentials. 

These scams can happen on any device, but smaller phone screens can make fake links harder to spot. 

7. Fake Tech Support Scams

Users receive a phone call or message from someone claiming to be from their provider company or a tech company associated with their gadgets. They will address any temporary glitches or major problems in your device or software and offer to resolve them. But in return, they ask to download some random software or app to suspend the virus on your device. As soon as you download the software, it will bring malware to your device and steal all your personal account data, leaving you frustrated and struggling to recover your money.

8. IRS Agent Scams

Fraudsters will contact you, either by call, email, or text, claiming to be an official IRS agent, and even show you a fake ID with a badge number, gaining your trust. They use AI technology, such as voice cloning, to make conversations more convincing. 

First, they claim you have an unpaid tax bill and pressure you to pay immediately, even threatening to arrest you if you refuse.

9. SIM Swapping Scams

In this scam, a scammer may convince you to swap their SIM into your phone by claiming their device was lost. This action will activate your number on their phone, giving scammers full access to your device. With this access, they can view your phone’s password, allowing them to reset it and take control of your social media and email accounts.

Even two-factor authentication (2FA) may not protect you in such cases. The crooks will now be getting all the text messages from your bank, which could put your money at risk.