Nearly every phone call I’ve received lately is a common phone scam. Now, when my cell phone rings and I don’t recognize the number, I simply don’t answer. They can leave a message or send a text—it’s that straightforward.
After speaking with friends and family, I found that everyone is getting more scam calls than before. It’s not surprising: by late 2019, analysts predicted that nearly half of all mobile calls would be scams.
When I accidentally pick up one of these calls, the fraudulent nature is often obvious, but many scams sound convincing. If you’re tired or distracted, you’re much more likely to be fooled.
Phone scams come in many forms: callers may claim to be people you know, representatives of companies you use, or they may use threatening tactics. Many people assume they would never fall victim, but scammers succeed because people do fall for their tricks.
According to a 2018 Truecaller study, roughly one in ten Americans has been deceived by a phone scam, and that year U.S. consumers reportedly lost about $9 billion to these calls.
Key findings from that research include:
- Free vacation schemes are among the most common scams.
- Households with incomes between $50,000 and $75,000 are less likely to fall victim.
- College graduates were found to be twice as likely to fall for phone scams in that analysis.
- Encouragingly, 96% of victims took action after discovering the fraud.
Rather than waiting to become a victim, here are practical steps you can take to avoid phone scams altogether.
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Below are common phone scams and what to do if you encounter one.
Common phone scams
Scammers pursue many angles, but their goal is always the same: to get money or personal information. These are the most persistent and effective phone scams you’ll encounter.
- The iTunes gift card IRS scam: A caller claims to be with the IRS and threatens arrest unless you pay immediately—by buying iTunes gift cards and providing the codes. This is fraudulent: government agencies never accept gift cards as payment.
- The free vacation scam: You are told you won a trip. Even if a promotion is real, unexpected fees or “processing” costs are typically how scammers cash in.
- The student loan or credit card debt scam: Scammers contact you about unpaid loans or debts to extract personal details like your Social Security number. They often use urgency and intimidation to get you to comply.
- The “You won money!” or lottery scam: You’re told you won a prize but must pay fees or provide personal information to claim it. Legitimate lotteries do not ask winners to pay in advance or confirm winnings by phone if you never entered.
- The “Yes” scam: A caller records you saying “yes” (for example, by asking “Is your name…?”) and later uses that recording to claim you agreed to a purchase or service.
To avoid phone scams, block unwanted calls
Registering with the Do Not Call registry can reduce telemarketing calls, but it won’t stop most scam calls. The most effective defense is call blocking, which you can enable with phone features, carrier services, or apps. Many apps block calls by area code, known spam lists, or user-defined blacklists.
I personally avoid answering unknown numbers and then look them up before returning a call. A quick Google search of the number often reveals whether it’s associated with scams.
Don’t be fooled by local numbers
Scammers use “neighbor spoofing” to make their calls appear local. Don’t assume a local number is safe. Answering such calls can place you on active call lists, increasing the volume of scams you receive. If someone truly needs to reach you, they can leave a voicemail or send a text.
Don’t give out personal information unless you’re certain it’s needed and going to the right place
This is the most important rule. Scammers frequently pose as the IRS, Social Security, banks, or credit card companies to coax out Social Security numbers, account details, or payment information. Fear of penalties leads many people to comply.
Always hang up and verify by calling the organization back using a trusted phone number (for example, the number on the back of your credit card). Confirm the identity and purpose before sharing any personal details. If a call is fraudulent, block the number and report it.
More tips to avoid becoming a victim of phone scams
If you’re unsure about a caller, hang up. Trust your instincts. Additional precautions include:
- If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
- Don’t call back unfamiliar numbers—some premium-rate scams charge by the minute.
- Protect your personal information and only share it when you are certain it’s necessary and going to a verified recipient.
- Be cautious with emails that claim to support a phone call; sender addresses can be falsified.
- Never send money or payment information until you’ve confirmed the call’s legitimacy.
- Ask questions: request a caller’s name, company, reason for contacting you, and an employee or badge number. Then verify independently before providing information or payment.
How can I find out if a phone number is legitimate?
The quickest way to check a suspicious number is to search it online. Most scam numbers are documented by other victims, and a simple Google search will often reveal complaints or warnings.
What to do if you are a victim of a phone scam
Becoming a scam victim can be emotionally and financially harmful, but there are steps you can take to report the incident and limit damage:
- Contact your state attorney general’s office to report scams involving goods or services.
- Use USA.gov to find and report to your state’s consumer protection office.
- Report federal law violations to the Federal Trade Commission.
- Regularly check your credit reports to spot unauthorized activity quickly.
- Monitor bank and credit card statements and report any unauthorized charges immediately.
Have you been a victim of a phone scam? What phone scams have you encountered?