Beware telephone scammers

We occasionally read warnings of telephone scammers posing as service providers.

Such warnings are usually accompanied by useful advice for how to deal with suspect telephone scammers.

Such advice might include:

• putting the phone down on someone if you suspect they are a scammer;
• being aware that banks never call and ask for your account or card details or ask you to withdraw money or transfer money to another account;
• never assuming that a caller is genuine just because they hold some information about you;
• always being wary of cold callers who suggest you hang up the phone and call them back;
• never calling a suspect scammer back;
• remembering that it takes two people to terminate a phone call;
• checking that the suspect scammer is not still on the line before sharing sensitive information with anyone over the phone.
• ensuring that the telephone line is clear by using the same phone to call a relative or friend;
• speaking to a relative or friend using the same phone to be certain that a suspect scammer is not still on the line.

Beware scammers using AI

AI (artificial intelligence) not only enables the voices of famous people to be copied and used without their consent.

It also enables your own voice to be counterfeited.

And of course the voice of your family and friends, your customers and suppliers, anyone you trust.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to tell the difference between fake and real.

The only way to be sure is to end the call and call the 'person' back using the contact details you had in your possession before you were contacted.

Beware Customer Support Callbacks

Some service providers no longer publish a customer support telephone number on their website.

We see this as a deliberate strategy to funnel website visitors seeking customer support into engaging with chat bots (and AI algorithms).

Only after you have wasted several minutes - even hours - trying to talk to an algorithm might you be offered the opportunity to talk to a human.

But only on condition that you offer up your telephone number and give your consent to receiving a call back (callback).

The problem with this trend in so called customer service is that it provides an opportunity for scammers to pass off as being a call back service.

When you receive the call back you will have no way of knowing whether or not the caller is representing the organisation which you are attempting to engage with.

Tip: transact with others on your terms and not on theirs.

If a service provider's customer service is this bad then use a different service provider.

Beware scammers impersonating legitimate businesses

Scammers can intercept phone calls to legitimate businesses and re-route them to fraudulent ones.

So be on your guard even when calling a familiar number to speak to a service provider.

If in doubt put the phone down and start over, maybe using a different phone line or communication medium.

If using the same phone line then call a friend to check the previous call is closed before contacting the service provider again.

Beware scammers using SMS, text messaging and voice mail

Smishing attacks are when scammers send spam text messages which appear to be from legitimate sources (example: bank, courier or government service).

The smishing attack aims to either get you to give up your personal data, or click on a link and compromise your phone.

Such attacks bypass traditional email security measures like spam filters and antivirus tools.

And are apt to catch you off your guard.

For example, you are expecting an overdue parcel and receive a text message stating the courier was unable to deliver.

Vishing attacks are when scammers call you and leave voice mail.

How to protect yourself from smishing attacks

• Don’t click on links in suspicious and unexpected messages.
• Verify information independently.
• Keep your phone updated and enable spam filters.
• Never respond to texts with your personal information.

Read more: Smishing definition, examples, and how to stay safe.

Help Stop Telephone Scammers