Caregivers, older persons and everyone who uses a telephone take note: An old telephone scam from the past has resurfaced. It's called "phone spoofing" and it can easily happen to anyone of any age. As a result, the number of scam cases is on the rise – especially those involving older people. Seniors generally make easy targets for telephone scam activities. Think you're too smart to become a victim? When was the last time you questioned your telephone's "caller ID"?
What is Telephone Spoofing and Why are Elderly People Targeted?
Telephone spoofing is a way for a caller to change his identity information so that a false name and number appear on the recipient's caller ID. The caller uses a "spoofing service" or a phone spoofing device that allows him to project a false identity and even disguise his voice. Phone spoofing services can easily be found online.
Scam thieves target elderly people for a number of reasons:
- Elderly people tend to trust most anyone, even strangers.
- Old age can affect hearing, vision and cognitive function. Thieves – particularly dishonest family members – can use the disabling conditions of old age to pull off a phone scam.
- Mental conditions caused by age and diseases such as early stage dementia may cause elders to forget names, places commitments, etc., making them easy targets for fast-talking crooks.
- Pride is another reason seniors make easy targets for scams; elderly folks tend to keep humiliating or shameful news (like getting scammed) to themselves.
- The fear of being (legally) declared incompetent or dependent keeps older people from reporting scam activity to the authorities or even friends and family members.
Who Uses Telephone Spoofing?
Pranksters use phone spoofing to fool family members, friends and other people. Telemarketers often use phone spoofing to disguise their identity on caller ID – otherwise, consumers would never answer the phone! Police and detectives may use phone spoofing to conceal identities. Places where safety is a primary concern – domestic violence shelters, for example – may use phone spoofing to protect victims.
Thieves and scam artists use phone spoofing to trick victims into giving out personal information. Unfortunately, a thief doesn't have to be a stranger. He (or she) can be a relative, friend, neighbor, church member, co-worker or other acquaintance. Sometimes, all that's needed for a phone scam is a simple device to change the caller's voice so that he (or she) cannot be recognized.
Is Telephone Spoofing Legal?
Telephone spoofing in the U.S. was outlawed in 2010 by Congress, thanks to a Bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. The "Truth in Caller ID Act of 2010" (PDF) (111th Congress, H.R. 1258) was put into law: "To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit manipulation of caller identification information, and for other purposes."
Regardless of government law, phone spoofing services are thriving. Phone spoofing can be carried out from any place in the world. Desperate times could be one very good reason why the number of criminal phone spoofing cases is on the rise in the U.S. The fact that it's so easy to pull off a phone spoofing scam makes it attractive to a lot of dishonest people – first-time offenders as well as pros.
AARP Warns Consumers of Phone Spoofing
Sid Kirchheimer, contributing writer for the AARP Bulletin, made readers aware of telephone spoofing in a July 2009 article titled, "Who is That Really on My Caller ID?" He explains how anyone – not just a senior – could fall for the phone spoofing scam: "[The scam artist pretends] to be calling from a bank, a credit card company or a government agency, and the recipients may feel safe revealing personal information such as bank account and Social Security numbers ..."
In a more recent AARP Bulletin article by the same author, titled, "Avoid Jury Notices Rigged to Get Your ID" (Jan. 2011), readers learn how fear plays into phone spoofing. It starts with a call saying you're about to be arrested for not showing up for jury duty. It's a phony charge, but the threat is intended to scare the victim.
Kirchheimer explains, "Then, claiming to want to clear up the matter, the caller asks you to verify your identity – by providing your Social Security number, birth date and possibly bank or credit card account numbers. Revealing such details can help the caller steal your identity and get credit cards, loans and medical services in your name and at your expense."
How to Identify a Phone Spoofing Scam
A phone spoofing scam can be difficult to identify. The best way to avoid a scam is to never supply personal and/or sensitive information over the phone when someone else initiates the call. Here are a few ways to identify a phone spoofing scam and what to do to avoid becoming a victim:
- An after-hours call from a financial institution raises a red flag. Banks, loan offices and credit unions typically call customers during daytime business hours – not in the evening or on weekends or holidays.
- Day or night, professional phone crooks can be both convincing and persistent. If you suspect a scam, hang up. If your caller ID shows it's a familiar business or agency, then look up the number in the phone book, call the business and explain what's going on.
- To avoid telemarketing calls and a possible related scam in the US, sign up with the National Do Not Call Registry. See the website, National Do Not Call Registry (A dot gov site).
- Activate your phone service call blocking or call rejection feature. See your service provider for details on how to block or reject repeated calls.
- Remember, no reputable government agency or place of business is going to ask you for your password or personal identification number (PIN). Never volunteer sensitive information.
- Beware of scams that could be disguised as home product surveys, opinion surveys or even political surveys.
- Never verify your identity with your Social Security number. Use the last 4 digits or decline altogether.
- Don't trust your telephone's caller ID. Phone spoofing to scam unsuspecting citizens is a crime in the U.S., but that doesn't mean one can't still become a victim of illegal activity.
Most people trust what pops up on the caller ID when the phone rings. If you're not completely satisfied that a caller is legitimate, then hang up and call the business or agency yourself. Caregivers can protect the people they care for from telephone scam crimes. How? Stay informed; make others aware of scams that target vulnerable groups of people. Take whatever steps are necessary (Call blocking or the National DNC Registry) to shield loved ones from phone spoofing crime.
Sources
- U.S. House of Representatives: "The Truth in Caller ID Act of 2010" (PDF) H.R. 1258.
- AARP Bulletin (Online): "Who is That Really on My Caller ID" (Sid Kirchheimer, July 2009).
- AARP Bulletin (Online): "Avoid Jury Notices Rigged to Get Your ID" (Sid Kirchheimer, Jan. 2011).
- National Do Not Call Registry (A dot gov website) "What You Should Know about the Do Not Call Registry" (U.S. Gov. 2011).
- Spoofem.com: Home Page, the page titled, "What is Spoofem?" and "Stop Spoof Abuse" (No author, 2010).
- Telespoof (Online): "Frequently Asked Questions" (No author, 2011).
Mary King - Mary King is a Suite101 Topic Editor for the Caregiver Support and Home Management sections. She has authored 5 teen-based novels.
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