Scam Callers How to Deal with Them

All our contact details are available all over the world, because companies sell your data, whether we like it or not. A lot of the time we don’t go through the terms and conditions of websites we visit as we don’t have the time. The terms and conditions we click on can lead to spam calls later on. I was interested in understanding more about Crypto currencies once, so I visited a website on that subject, it was about a week later that I was receiving calls from that ‘company’ that I had visited online.

I had filled in my contact details for the information they were providing, but was not expecting to receive calls trying to sell me crypto currency investments. Here in Australia, billions of dollars are lost each year to fake emails and scam callers.

Scam callers are people that are keen to get your details or sell you something that is not a legitimate product or services. Identity fraud is big business. Sometimes fraudsters want your details to access your bank accounts or to apply for benefits from government run benefit schemes.

Here is a link to an Australian site that details some of the scams.

Scam alert: https://asic.gov.au/about-asic/news-centre/news-items/scam-alert-asic-sees-a-rise-in-crypto-scams/

How do you handle a call from somebody that you don’t know that you could suspect to be a scammer?

Usually when scammers call you, they try and put you on the back foot, by asking you for your name and or address. Sometimes they start with a question like ‘would you like to earn thousands quickly?’ or they can ask you for your advice on something related to their call.

The reason they ask you a number of questions about yourself is because they do not want you questioning them.

Some scammers pretend to be students doing a research project. They try and gain information from you, your name, and surname, your position at the company. Be very aware of the questions you answer.

These scammers are building up information about you, they can then use this information to target your colleagues, and use your name, to pretend that they know you. This way they can gain the confidence of your friends, and scam them.

Anyone that you do not know, that has a message to save or make you money should be treated with suspicion. The old rule of ‘If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is, still applies.’ Also be aware even if they mention a family member or a friend or colleagues name. Be vigilant about calls for investments, holidays, renewable energy offers, insurance offers etc. These could all be scammers.

How to answer a spam caller

When you receive a call that is from somebody you don’t know, the first thing you should do is ask the person for their name and their contact number, and the company that they represent.

Then state that it is your policy that all calls and discussions need to be verified before proceeding. Then you ask them the following questions.

Ask them for a website address and the physical address of the company they work for. Then say to them you cannot speak right now, but you will call them back.

They may have an excuse that due to the pandemic they are working from home and therefore only available on their mobile phone.

If they stall, or get hazy or deflect from answering your questions, you know that they are not legitimate.

It is best to be polite and tell them to have a nice day and then end the call. Implementing the above protocols should allow you to uncover the scam. You can get rude and slam the phone down, but I think you invite more of this type thing if you do. I find being polite and showing them that you know what they are about makes them less likely to ‘want to get you.’

Calls from ‘Government Entities’

The number of scam calls, supposedly from ‘health services’ or the ‘Tax or Revenue Department’. The ‘local council’ or state government. Or one of the favourites ‘the police’.

All of these are designed to put you on the back foot immediately.

Ask for details from them, don’t just accept what you are being told. Ask them which office they are calling from and once again say you cannot speak right now, but will call them back. Ask for their landline number and the physical address of the office they are calling from.

Be very aware that these types of scammers are very confident and will make threats when you ask for details. Remain polite and say that you will contact them in 5 minutes, but they have caught you in the middle of something. Do not give any details about yourself. In fact if they are from a government agency they should know all your details already. If they ask you for your surname, address, or anything that should be a red flag.

Check the information they supply you with online and physically phone the offices of their employer or the government department, they could have just Googled the department they claim to work for and have these details correct, you need to literally call and verify that they are employed, at wherever they say they are employed.

No matter what type of scammer you are dealing with, always be polite, and hang up.

If they cannot verify who they are, how dare they ask you details about yourself? Be very vigilant but polite. “Be as gentle as doves but wise as serpents.” As the teaching goes.

Final thoughts:

Never be intimidated by someone calling you and asking for your details.

Prior to providing any details, ask them to prove who they are and what company they work for.

Never be scared of supposed authorities, or even your ‘bank’

Always delay the call and say that you will call them back, and then ask for their details, if they get hazy or hang up, you know you have a scammer.

If their excuse is that they are working from home, ask them for their employers address and contact number, and check the details online. Also call the employer and ask if that person works for them.

I hope this assists those who read this, it works for me.

Dean

Creative thinker, truth seeker, inquisitive questioner, idea generator. Contributor to Retail World, Data Driven Investor, Illumination.