Unknown Caller? The Dangers of Answering and What to Do Instead

Every time you answer an unknown caller, you’re putting yourself at risk. In 2023, Americans lost a staggering $25.4 billion to phone scams, and many of these scams start with picking up the phone. 

Scammers use a variety of tactics to trick you into giving away personal information or unknowingly authorizing fraudulent charges. Let’s look at how these scams work and the simple steps you can take to protect yourself.

Types of Phone Scams

Phone scams are getting smarter every year. Many of these scams start with the victim simply answering a call from a number they didn’t recognize. Let’s look at some tactics scammers are using these days by pretending to be unknown callers.

‘Spam Risk’ Callers

You’ve likely seen calls labeled as “Spam Risk” or “Scam Likely.” These aren’t just random labels. Phone companies track calling patterns to identify suspicious numbers. When a number makes thousands of calls in a short time or gets flagged by many users, it gets marked as suspicious.

Let’s take a closer look at the types of calls you might get from these flagged numbers:

• Live scammers pretending to be legitimate: A caller will claim to be from your bank, delivery service, or government agency. They may sound convincing, but they’re trying to trick you into revealing personal information like your account details or passwords.
• Vishing attacks: Scammers will try to get you to speak by asking for personal details like your name, address, or account information. They may even use tricks like pretending they need your help to resolve an issue or verify your identity.

Not sure if that “Spam Risk” call is real? Learn how to tell if a number is real and avoid falling victim to these tricks.

“Can You Hear Me” Scam

The scammer starts with a simple question like “Can you hear me?” or “Is this [your name]?” The goal is to get you to respond with “yes.” Once they have that recording, they can:

• Use your voice to approve charges over the phone
• Sign you up for unwanted services
• Claim you agreed to terms and conditions you never saw

Even if you don’t say “yes,” a quick or polite response gives scammers something to work with. Here’s what could still go wrong if you pick up:

• They ask for your name, city, or workplace: These small pieces of info help them build a fake profile around you. Later, they use that to make scams more believable or sell your data to other scammers.
• They confirm your number is active: Even if you stay quiet, the call itself shows someone is using your number. This adds you to more scam attempt lists. 
• They try to keep you talking: Every second you stay on the line gives them more clues. They might hear background noise, accents, or other details that help them target you better.
• Voice cloning: Some scammers can take that short clip of your voice and use it for voice cloning. With new AI technology, they can recreate your voice and use it to scam friends, family, or even businesses. 

Think that accidental call might be more than just a mistake? Run a reverse search to find out.

Robocalls

The goal of robocall automation is to trick you into providing personal information or taking actions that will benefit the scammer.

Here’s how robocalls usually work:

• Pre-recorded messages: These calls might tell you there’s an issue with your bank account, tax filings, or delivery. They’ll then prompt you to press a number to “verify” your account or get more information.
• Urgent messages to create fear: Robocalls often use scare tactics, saying you owe money or need to take urgent action to avoid consequences. 
• Redirecting you to live scammers: Sometimes, after the pre-recorded message, the call will transfer you to a live person who will try to steal your money or personal information.
• Connect you to premium numbers: They might redirect you to high per-minutes free numbers, slowly draining your phone bill as you stay connected.

Find out how phone carriers are fighting spoofing scams with new changes.

How Can You Protect Yourself From Phone Scams

Scammers can’t trick you if you don’t give them a chance. There are simple steps you can take to lower your risk. Let’s go through them one by one.

Do Not Answer Unknown Calls

Avoid picking up calls from numbers you don’t recognize. Here’s why:

• Most legitimate callers will leave a voicemail if it’s important
• Scammers often wait for you to say something first so they can record your voice
• Let the call go to voicemail and listen before deciding to respond

Think that unknown caller might be more than just a wrong number? Run a reverse search to find out:

Run a Reverse Phone Number Lookup Tool

Companies like Social Catfish help people spot fake identities by looking up the information connected to a phone number or message.

Here’s what you can do with their tools:

• Run a reverse phone number lookup to see who is really behind the number
• Check the caller’s email, username, or social media to find red flags
• Catch fake job offers, romance scams, or tech support fraud before you respond

Block and Report Suspicious Numbers

After receiving a spam call, don’t just hang up. Here’s what to do:

• After verifying the legitimacy of a number by using reverse phone lookup, block it using your phone’s built-in features or through your call app.
• Report it to the FTC Complaint Assistant or your local phone provider

Register for the Do Not Call List

To reduce spam calls, visit the National Do Not Call Registry and add your number. This stops real businesses from contacting you without permission. While it does not stop scams, but it cuts down overall calls

Can Unknown Callers Hack Your Phone?

While it’s unlikely that answering a call will directly hack your phone, scammers have other tricks up their sleeves. They might try to get you to install malware or steal your information. Here’s how it works:

• They might ask you to click on a link that takes you to a fake website.
• They could send a text or email with an attachment that carries malware.
• Sometimes, they might convince you to download an app or software that can give them access to your phone.

Learn more about how to spot suspicious texts and calls that could put your phone at risk.

How to Prevent Your Phone From Getting Hacked

To keep your phone safe, here are simple steps to follow:

• Never click on links or open attachments from unknown numbers or emails.
• If you get a message asking you to download something, ignore it. A legitimate company will never ask you to do this out of the blue.
• Keep your phone’s operating system up to date. Updates fix security problems and keep your phone safe from new types of malware.
• Use a trusted security app to scan your phone. These apps check for viruses and harmful software.

Final Thoughts

Worried about an unknown caller? Let our search specialists help you get to the truth and give you peace of mind.

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“ERIN had obviously read ALL of my letter!!! She first gave me empathy and responded with a comprehensive LIST of what I should do to clean my browser, recapture my History (for I have sought the advice and expertise of social catfish these last 5 years), then included this most recent search of mine as well as all my searches from my past. ERIN…and your service protected me and my heart. ” — Marek.