Phone Scams: How to Spot and Avoid Telephone Fraud

Wanda received a text message on her phone from an unknown number, appearing to be from her beloved daughter, Emma. The message read, “Hey Mom, it’s me. I lost my phone and need to borrow some money urgently. Can you send it right away? Love you!” Trusting the message to be genuine, Wanda’s motherly instincts immediately kicked in, and without further ado, she replied, “Of course, my dear. How much do you need?”

What Wanda didn’t realize was that she had fallen into the clutches of a cruel scammer who had managed to disguise their identity. The imposter played on her emotions, posing as her daughter and exploiting her natural instinct to protect and help her loved ones in times of need.

In today’s interconnected world, phone scams have become a prevalent threat, targeting unsuspecting individuals through deceptive phone calls. Scammers employ various tactics to exploit trust and fear, tricking victims into revealing personal information, making payments, or granting access to their devices. In this article, we will shed light on common phone scams, provide practical examples, and equip you with essential tips to protect yourself from falling victim to these fraudulent schemes.

Common Phone Scams

a) Impersonation Scams