Millions of people in the US receive spam calls on a daily basis. According to the latest statistics from Truecaller, on average, every person gets 8 spam calls monthly. Also, the total number of these unwanted and annoying calls rises to 2 billion every single month in the USA alone. But when that caller uses your own phone number, that could complicate the issue. In fact, that’s called a spoofing technique.
So, a stranger you don’t even know can call your friend or other people and use your caller ID instead of their real one. But how can you tell if that’s the case? And most importantly, what can you do to prevent that from happening and protect your contact number from being compromised?
Check whether your number is being used or not
When someone pretends to be you through your mobile phone number, they can do a lot online. So, that stranger or a scammer can call your family members or colleagues and ask them a precise question. But for sure, there are not any questions, but are requesting access to some of your personal details, if not more.
If your phone number is being used for spam, there are different methods you can use to further investigate the problem.
The first thing you can do is search for your contact number with Google. That may help you get an idea of whether or not others have used it on their Internet account, etc.
That being said, reverse phone number lookup tools are best for this type of investigation. That’s because these solutions have large databases and multiple data sources. That means saving time doing the research for a specific detail about you.
No matter what website or app you use, when your number is being spoofed, look at these common signs:
- Unusual phone calls
- SMS from a number you don’t know
- Your name or number is shared a lot on social media. That’s because the scammer may try to sell something and pretend to be you.
Now, to further understand these signs, here is what you need to know. In fact, spammers may try to call others and hide their real caller ID behind yours. After that, when your neighbor, for example, gets a call from that ID, they’ll think it’s you. So, imagine what other people can do to damage your reputation and cause more issues through phone number spoofing.
Talking about phone spoofing, there are many alerts about that in the US. So, make sure you
How to prevent that spoofing
To stop someone from spoofing your phone number, you have to be vigilant first. Second, you need to take a look at your online presence and avoid unnecessary data sharing
That’s not all; unfortunately, many people fall victim to online scams because they share their contact numbers on social media and everywhere.
You don’t need to use your primary cell number on Facebook or Instagram. Instead, opt for a secondary number that you can change at any time. That’s much better than seeing a stranger use your details to scam others or for any spam attempt.
When you get annoying calls, ask yourself what the reason is behind them. That could be because of a comment on Instagram that makes users try to reach you. At the same time, use Google removal service for personal information. You don’t need your number to be listed and indexed by Google or a search engine when it’s private. Luckily, Google can take action, and their team can remove your details from the search engine after you fill out the removal request.
Monitor your phone number
The best way to prevent someone from using your phone number without your permission is to be vigilant. So, always type your number into the Facebook search bar, for example. Then, see if it appears in any searches. After that, do the same with Instagram, TikTok, and other social media websites that scammers may use.
On Facebook, for example, there is a search bar that you can use. So, type your number there and browse any comment or post that talks about it. Other than that, you may use Yahoo or any search engine you prefer for this type of search. Some classified websites, like Craigslist, can also be a good source of information, as scammers may use them to publish your number. That way, people who are interested in that ad can contact you and not the real person behind it, which is a problem.
Moreover, users on Snapchat can create fake accounts using your name or mobile number. They don’t have to verify your number if you don’t have a profile linked to it. But they can add it as a way of contact for those interested in reaching out. Thus, when you check social media and websites for your number, you’ll have the URL and username of those accounts to report.
Some facts about phone spam and spoofing
According to the same source of statistics as above (Truecaller) in the US, there were 3 billion spam calls in January 2024. That’s twice what was in July 2023 and the previous period. Of course, these are not 100% spoofed calls, but a lot of that is what’s considered scam attempts, etc.
For spam text messages, Americans received 520 million texts that were spammed in February 2024, which is a lot. Nevertheless, there’s only one source and not many statistics that cover the entire country. That means you can expect the huge number of phone spoofs and spam to be much higher.
By neglecting the fact that a stranger can post ads or comments on social media with your number, you open the doors to common problems. Identity theft starts with actions like that, and when the same person uses your email, photos, and details on their social account, people believe that you’re that user. So imagine what they can do further. That’s why, by understanding the consequences of leaving your details posted online, you can take action before it’s too late.
Now, when talking about spoofing, that also ends with phishing and related threats. So, it’s not an option these days to see what’s going on with these issues.
How to report spoofing?
Once you verify that you’re indeed a victim of phone spoofing, follow these tips. First, you should report the case to local authorities, as they can help faster. Next, tell your list of friends on social networks or with whom you communicate about the issue. They should be aware of that, and they can know that when someone calls them from your number, it’s not you. Additionally, you need to file a complaint with the Internet Crime Center.
After that, look for any other website in your country or state that can prevent further damage to your identity, etc.
Of course, you should inform your cellular phone provider about that. They can investigate further and possibly tell you who the real people are behind that spoofing. However, don’t expect a lot from mobile phone carriers, as their investigations can take months or even longer, depending on how serious they are about the security of their users.
Conclusion
No matter what others can do with your phone number, if someone is indeed using it, you should take action. Start by having a look at the above signs, and then report the case to online authorities and tell your family and friends about it. It’s not only your case but a global issue that never stops going further with the advances in telecommunication technologies and social media.
If you have such a case with phone spoofing, I would like to hear from you. Tell me what happened exactly so we can write about that and help the readers prevent that in the future.
