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Neighbor spoofing — the technique criminals use to trick you into answering their calls
January 2023 by NordVPN
In 2022, the amount of the money lost to an average scam call rised to $567 on average. This is more than three times more than in 2021.
Experts say that the increasing numbers of fraud and scam calls could be associated with neighbor spoofing, a new technique criminals use to mask their identity.
“Neighbor spoofing is when scammers use reliable-looking phone numbers to make users answer their call and trust them. The phone number may have a prefix with a victim’s area code or look like it belongs to a local business or even someone you know. When the victims pick up the call, scammers will try to talk them into giving away some of their personal information or perform some action like a money transfer,” says Daniel Markuson, a cybersecurity expert at NordVPN.
How neighbor spoofing works
Con-callers use various techniques to disguise themselves behind legitimate numbers. They can rotate their numbers to avoid being blocked or reported. The idea is that people typically answer numbers from the area they live in or that they recognize. That means a scammer has more chances to get someone on the line.
Phone spoofing itself is not illegal in most countries. Various agencies and organizations use it to hide their numbers. But the same technique is used by scammers to trick users into believing they are talking to a legitimate company representative.
How to avoid neighbor spoofing
● Check whether your phone carrier provides blocking options. Some companies have lists of malicious callers and can protect their users from them. If you receive a scam call, you can also report or block individual callers. Phone-blocking apps are also available for use. However, because these scammers usually rotate their numbers, blocking a single number may not be enough.
● Do not answer calls from unknown numbers (even if they contain a familiar area code). A legitimate caller can leave a voicemail or use another communication channel if they have something important to say. If you get a suspicious call from a business entity or a government agency, you can always call them yourself to double-check whether they tried to contact you.
What to do if you have answered a scammer’s call
“If you answered a call and realized it is fraudulent, the best thing to do is to hang up immediately. It is pointless to engage in conversation with scammers because their usual goal is to steal information,” says Daniel Markuson.
On the other hand, if the call might be legitimate but you have even the slightest suspicion, don’t give out your details or perform any actions requested by a caller. You can always call the company or organization back to double-check whether the call was genuine. Experienced fraudsters can imitate the tone of voice and manners of legitimate customer representatives and may sound very convincing.
Last, don’t forget to report the fraudulent call you received. Reporting a call to local authorities or your service provider for further investigation could benefit other users so they don’t become victims.
