How to Recognize and Avoid Phone Scams

There are some truly lovely people in the world, and the caregivers at Visiting Angels Barrington are living proof of that. But there are, unfortunately, some bad actors out there, too. They selfishly try to take advantage of people for their own gain, often using deceit, trickery and fear to steal valuable information and money. The good news is that there are some telltale signs to help you recognize and avoid these scammers so they’re left frustrated in their criminal behavior.

They Try To Rush You

Scammers are most effective when they can put someone under pressure. To create a false sense of urgency, they may say there’s a limited time to act before you suffer consequences or imply extreme outcomes like jail time if you don’t comply with their demands. Under normal circumstances, their empty threats seem outlandish, but scammers try to take advantage of potential victims who become flustered and act before their victims can take a moment to stop and think. Remember, if someone is trying to rush you, take the time you need. Legitimate organizations won’t try to make you panic.

The Request Doesn’t Make Sense

Scammers often like to work quickly and cast a wide net to get as many potential victims as they can. That occasionally means they’re not worried about their scams making much sense. If something feels off or sounds strange to you, trust your instincts. One common out-of-place request is for a scammer to demand payment in the form of gift cards. According to the IRS’s website, this is just one of the signs that the person on the phone is trying to deceive you. In fact, the IRS has a detailed list of actions they’ll never take, including threatening jail time, requesting debit or credit card numbers and demanding immediate payment.

Never Send Money to Someone Without Verification

There are times when you’ll need to make a payment for something over the phone, such as to settle a bill from a doctor’s office. Expenses like that are generally expected and shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, you would know if you had a recent doctor’s visit. But when a call unexpectedly comes asking for payment, stop and think. Do you know the company or office requesting money? Is the expense something you were aware of? If you’re unsure, tell the person you’ll call them back and dial the number of the business or office that’s publicly available. Legitimate organizations will give you the time to pay, but more often than not, a scammer will attempt to pressure you into payment immediately. If you send money to a scammer, it’s likely gone for good, so be vigilant.

Hang Up

It might seem obvious, but the most effective way to beat a scammer is to halt them in their tracks before they get going. Phone scams only work when the person trying to trick you is able to engage with you on the phone. If you get a call from a number you don’t recognize or that caller ID doesn’t verify, let the person calling leave a message. Many scammers won’t even bother with that because it’s not worth their time. Some, however, will leave a voicemail taking in an attempt to get you to call back. Listen to the message, and if you aren’t sure if the call is legitimate, ask someone you trust like a caregiver, loved one or friend. You can occasionally search the internet for the phone number, and if the person leaving a message names an organization they belong to, look up the number and call it yourself — not the number the caller left. Any business or government office can confirm whether the call originated from them or was an attempted scam.

Conclusion

It’s important to be vigilant when it comes to dealing with people you don’t know. Make sure you’re working with trusted organizations and with people you can rely on. And if something sounds fishy, it probably is. Our caregivers at Visiting Angels Barrington are a terrific resource to help you handle any calls and requests you’re unsure of, along with the many other home care services we provide. Get in touch with us by calling 224-512-4180 today.