Are you tired of receiving endless scam calls, interrupting your day and potentially putting you at risk of falling victim to fraud? You're not alone. Many of us receive countless scam calls every week.
I personally get 20-30 each week. And that is despite having a caller ID lookup app that identify potential scammers. It used to work very well, but they are now using more 'regular numbers'. Just today, the caller ID lookup app showed a name associated with the number. A normal dude living just about an hour away from me.
But(!!)... there are steps you can take to protect yourself and reduce the risk of becoming a target. In this article, we'll explore the various tactics scammers use, how to spot a potential scam call, and what you can be done to prevent a scam from happening.

Some scam caller tactics

Scammers employ various tactics to trick unsuspecting individuals into providing personal or financial information, or even transferring money directly to them. One common technique is spoofing caller ID, where scammers manipulate the caller ID information to make it appear as though the call is coming from a legitimate source, such as a government agency or a trusted company. This can make it difficult to identify scam calls, as they may appear to be coming from a familiar or reputable number. This helps the scammer to appear legit and somewhat trustworthy when they ask for the information they want/need.

Spotting a potential Spoofed Caller ID

While spotting a spoofed caller ID can be quite tricky, there are some signs to look for when your phone is ringing. Be cautious if you receive a call from an unfamiliar number, especially if it's from an area code you don't recognize! Basically, be cautious of any call you get, since the scammers can spoof any number they want and have imagination to.

The importance of caution when answering your phone

When answering the phone, it's essential to be very, very cautious, especially if you suspect the call may be from a scammer.
If you answer the phone and you do not have the number in your contacts avoid saying your name when answering.
There are countless of episodes where the scammers just need to verify that the number they have called is associated with a certain individual. This happens often if the individual has an account on a CEX like MEXC, Binance, Coinbase, Kraken or any other.

The role of STIR/SHAKEN Framework

To combat spoofed caller ID, telecommunications providers are implementing the STIR/SHAKEN framework. This technology verifies the authenticity of caller ID information, making it easier to spot and block scam calls before they reach consumers. Look for caller ID verification indicators or labels on your phone, which may indicate that STIR/SHAKEN is being used by your provider.
In my personal experience, this is not in use for me, but I haven't verified this yet.

Measures to reduce scam calls

Governments, law enforcement agencies, and telecommunications companies are taking measures to reduce the number of scam calls reaching consumers. This includes implementing stricter regulations, enforcing penalties for illegal spoofing activities, and investing in technologies like STIR/SHAKEN, as just mentioned, to authenticate caller ID information - if in use, that is.

What you can do to prevent scam calls

There are several steps you can take to protect yourself from scam calls. Enable call blocking features on your phone, register with the national Do Not Call Registry, and report scam calls to the appropriate authorities.
Stay informed about common scam tactics and be cautious when sharing personal information over the phone. Or better yet: just don't share personal information over the phone.

Did you accidentally pick up and find yourself dealing with a scammer? And do you want some fun?!

Turn it into a sales pitch

For those feeling confident, turning a scam call into a sales pitch can be an interesting approach. Politely (or impolitely) redirect the conversation to highlight a product or service you're offering, but remain cautious and avoid sharing sensitive information.
The best way to get the scammer to stay on the phone is to mirror him or her. This is most commonly done via the tone when speaking on the phone. You can also use words and phrases that the scammer has used.

This exercise is not recommended for all people, but it will make the experience so much more fun!

Now...

Verifying Provider Usage of STIR/SHAKEN

To verify if your provider is using the STIR/SHAKEN framework, reach out to them directly or check their website for information about call authentication measures.

By staying informed, vigilant, and proactive, you can protect yourself from falling victim to a scam call.

Be aware and stay awake

Reblog lottery

As this is my first reblog lottery, I will make short notice about this.
Out of the people who reblog this post, there will be a random winner who will be a 50% beneficiary to my next post (not Actifit!).

In the next post there will then be a much better explanation and introduction to my way of doing reblog lottery.

Stay tuned my friends!