Scam phone calls are an all too common tactic used by fraudsters to trick unsuspecting victims into handing over their personal information.
But the good news is that there is an easy way to avoid falling victim to crooked cold callers as certain area codes are more likely to be tied to scams than others.
Scammers previously used a 900 number to target people, as the code is commonly associated with trusted entertainment or informational services such as TV and broadband providers.
But cybersecurity expert Joseph Steinberg warns that there are now almost 20 other area codes to be on your guard against.
‘Criminals have been known to use caller IDs with the area code 473, for example, which appears to be domestic, but is actually the area code for the island of Grenada,’ he told Reader’s Digest.
Cybersecurity expert Joseph Steinberg warns that there are 20 area codes to watch out for
70 million Americans reportedly lost money to phone scams last year – with a total loss of almost $40 billion
It is also worth being extra vigilant if the area code 809 – which also originates in the Caribbean – pops up on your screen.
Many of these scam phone numbers are particularly dangerous as they have a +1 country code, so victims believe they are receiving a domestic call, but they are in fact coming from United States territories.
For example, Steinberg says to look out for calls coming from the area code 242, which originates in the Bahamas, 876, which comes from Jamaica, and 809, 829, and 849 – from The Dominican Republic.
According to Truecaller, which has an app that blocks fraudulent calls, nearly 70 million Americans lost money to phone scams last year – with a total loss of almost $40 billion.
If you do accidentally answer a call from one of these area codes, you could also be charged for picking up a call from a foreign country.
Steinberg says the best way to avoid being scammed or incurring any extra charges is by never answering or returning a call from a number you don’t recognize.
‘Remember that it’s unlikely that someone you do not know—who is in distress at a location with which you are not familiar—would dial a random number in another country and ask you to help them,’ he told Reader’s Digest. ‘They would call the police.’
But if you are charged for picking up a scam call, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recommends contacting your phone company and asking to have incorrect charges removed.
It is important to remember that scammers can also create fake phone numbers through a process called ‘spoofing.’
This cunning technology enables crooks to replicate numbers from many area codes to pose as your bank, telecoms provider or a government body such as the tax office.
Cybersecurity expert Joseph Steinberg warns that there are now almost 20 area codes to watch out for if you receive an unexpected phone call
Warning sign: Experts warn to never answer calls from a number you do not recognize
Remember that your bank would never cold call you to ask you for your personal information over the phone. If this happens, it is likely to be a scam and you should hang up immediately.
The warning comes amid a terrifying rise in hoax callers with increasingly extreme tactics.
Last month, an Arizona mom received a call from an unknown number with what sounded like her daughter screaming in the background, and a ‘kidnapper’ demanding $1 million in ransom money.
In reality, her daughter was safe on a ski trip and her voice had been cloned by AI technology.
Earlier this year, a woman from Pennsylvania also issued a stark warning after being duped into sending $500 to a hoax caller who claimed he had kidnapped her sister.
Beth Royce said she was woken up by a phone call that appeared to be from her sister, but was an imposter scam.
She detailed her ‘terrifying’ experience on social media in a bid to prevent the same thing happening to others.
