'Spoofing' scams steal your phone number; how to protect yourself from robocalls

Spoofing is the latest phone scam by telemarketers to trick you into picking up.

[Mike]

Thats the best advice we can get? Don't answer your phone? How about the cell phone providers provide security to their customers!

[zamasu]

I trolled the scammer that spoofed my phone. For my greeting absence voice, I recorded that "if you have been receiving harassing calls from this number and they are claiming to be us, just hang up. "

[debramurphy]

This did not tell me how to stop the spoffing

[cardcaptorsnaruto]

Have gotten several calls threatening law suits bc my number has been harassing them, my mother as well. It is insane how many people don't know about this.

[sanansa]

the biggest victims are elderly people. I have told older relatives for years about call spoofing and they still don't understand how it works.
The most common form of spoofing is the dialing software will automatically populate a random phone number that matches the same area code and phone exchange (same town/city) that they dialing too, so an elderly person might think it is a neighbor and pickup the phone. I don't answer calls from someone I don't now anymore. If a telemarketer keeps calling, eventually I will pick up and play the sound file that is online, that says this number has been disconnected and then release the call.

[Aljalil]

They never told us what to do to stop it

[billroy]

Blocking spoofers is risky - it might be a call you need to take.
Instead, have your phone accept only known numbers.
If is not a spoofer, they can leave a message.

[jengable]

Spoofing is one thing, someone going into your locker and stealing your cell phone and SIM card is another ! In addition to, illegally enter into your apartment and cloning your hard drive ! (Greenwich, CT and Stein Mart, AZ) Be careful !

[retsaMoN]

"we've been trying to reach you about your cars extended warranty" seems to be the new spam.

[stuartracing]

So how do you protect yourself like the title says????

[TheGreatWhitePhantom]

I've called the FBI the FCC the FTC and even called Interpol.. I'm met with the same general consensus; it's not our jurisdiction so, nothing we can do about, overseas ive had 3, 917 robocalls since 1 February of this year. The frustration and losing my temper at times, has caused health problems for me. Does anybody care? I doubt it

[compa_aex]

Well I have my number and I got a call of a person saying that I called then but I never even call anyone

[hanslowes]

Okay so my phone number is being used to call someone else which is kind of odd because it 11:20 someone said that I'd called them I did not I was on the phone with my father-in-law how do I prevent this from happening I've called my cell carrier and they done nothing

[laurenrhoads]

I have should I answer app and in the settings you can block negative reviews numbers that are hidden and numbers that aren't in your contact it allows them to leave a voice mail, but also lets you know that they have tried to call without ringing.

[BusinessMan]

My mother has dementia. It's difficult to make her stop answering scammers and spoofed numbers. She gets between 5 to 10 telemarketer calls a day. the Do Not Call List as we already know does not stop scammers.

[eddieoconnor]

Simple Plan. You call from a number I don't know? You have ONE CHANCE to leave a voice message. (Because I DO NOT ANSWER my phone PERIOD!) You don't leave a voice message? You get blocked. And yes, they can change their I can block 'em all!....LoL! And I don't wait until a weekend where I have noting to do to block numbers...I do it right there and then! This way they have no choice but to call me from another will just end up on my blocked juice today!!

[yannah]

Best advice is my expertise is speak another language.. I do it when I don’t know the number or it says scammer. I say I no speak English, no English. Then I say honayyy like I’m telling someone to talk on the phone for me. Then I mumble the other language like I’m talking to my friend that will interpret.

[buckwheat]

I’ve had this done to me recently multiple times had to get ahold of my phone carrier and was told by the lady that it has happened to her as well

[rosalinethomas]

I just switch to my home language. The easiest way. Because if you know me, you will know my language.

[TBI-Firefighter-]

I screen all calls through my answering machine and I got a Call Blocker for those low life scammers