Scam: Your Caller ID is Lying to You

Scammers are using a practice known a "spoofing", which falsifies the name and number displayed on a Caller I.D. 

Caller ID allows you to identify who is calling before answering the phone. However, Caller ID is susceptible to fraud, according to a press release.

Using the practice "spoofing", callers can deliberately falsify the name and number displayed on Caller ID. Scammers use this to hide their true identity.

Consumer affairs suggests the following:

• Don't give out personal information in response to an incoming call. Identity thieves often pose as representatives of banks, credit card companies, utilities, creditors or government agencies to get people to reveal their financial information
• If you get an inquiry from a company or government agency seeking such information, don’t provide it. Instead, hang up and call the number on your account statement or the company’s or government agency’s website to find out if the entity that supposedly called you actually needs the requested information
• Please contact the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with any information regarding Caller ID spoofing at 1-888-CALL-FCC. You can also file a complaint at www.fcc.gov/complaints.

Consumer affairs can be reached at 340-3260