To keep away from scammers, never pay with gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency, and do not provide personal information to unknown and unexpected callers. Check…,check and re-check every time you are asked for bank or personal info, if the caller is someone you can trust. In doubt take their phone # and hang up. There is never an emergency to disclose personal info…, NEVER.
How to avoid phone scams
Scammers create a false sense of urgency and leverage technology and information they can find online to sound convincing.
- Don’t answer calls from numbers you don’t know.
- Hang up right away if someone asks for money or personal information.
- If you feel pressured, or a caller asks you to pay with gift cards, it’s a scam!
- Never share account numbers, Social Security numbers, passwords, PINs, or other important information over the phone.
- If someone says they’re calling from a company or a government agency, hang up and call back using an official phone number from an account statement (if you have one) or their website.
- Don’t respond to texts or click on links sent from numbers you don’t recognize.
- Set up strong passwords for your voicemail so it doesn’t get hacked.
- Talk to your phone company about call blocking tools they may have and check into apps that you can download to your mobile device to block unwanted calls.
Robocalls rules
Robocalls are phone calls made using an autodialer or a prerecorded or artificial voice message.
FCC rules require a caller to obtain your prior written consent – on paper or through electronic means, including website forms or a telephone keypress – before they make a prerecorded telemarketing call to your home or wireless phone number. FCC rules also require a caller to obtain your oral or written consent before making an autodialed or prerecorded call or text to your wireless number.
These rules do not apply to emergency calls about danger to life, safety, or property.
Types of permitted autodialed calls
FCC rules allow market research or polling calls and calls on behalf of tax-exempt non-profit groups to landline numbers. Calls about school closings or flight information are also permitted to your landline.
Opting out of autodialed calls
Prerecorded telemarketing calls must provide an opt-out option at the start of the message. You may opt out of any robocall or robotext at any time and in any reasonable manner, even if you previously gave consent for such calls.
Prerecorded voice messages
All prerecorded voice message calls must include the caller’s name, number, and business name at the beginning of the message.
Artificial intelligence and voice cloning
AI-generated voice calls are illegal unless the consumer has agreed to receive them or the caller is exempt.
Telephone solicitations
Telephone solicitations are calls that act as an advertisement. Phone solicitations are permissible with prior express permission or from tax-exempt non-profits. Telemarketing calls based on an established business relationship are not permitted to your landline phone without your advanced permission.
