Have you ever been on the receiving end of a stranger’s cell-phone number and wistfully wondered what that person would want with it? Well, now you know. A scammer wants your personal information, so they can sell it to another party for money or something of value. But what if that other party happens to be someone you know? What if they’re trying to get your digits in case there is another scammer out there? You might think that no one would ever do such a thing, but as we all know from experience, some people are heartless and will take advantage of anyone. If you ever hear a friend or family member asking for your cell phone number, do not give it over without checking first. Scammers have already made their numbers easily available on the internet; just Google your name and the words ‘scam’ and ‘number’ together to see how many results there are! If they have your contact details and aren’t afraid to put them out into the public domain, perhaps this tip isn’t all that helpful: just ignore them. Your privacy is your right as an individual; after all, who wants their friends or family members asking for help when they can go online and find people willing to share their personal information for money?
What To Do If A Scammer Has Your Phone Number?
If you are having any issues with scammers, the best thing you can do is to report them to your local police or company security. It’s important to protect yourself and your data and REPORT THE SCAMMERS. Doing so will help to stop these types of scams in their tracks and help to protect your personal information.
How To Protect Yourself From Scamming Scammers?
- Do not give out your personal information over the phone or via email unless you know who you’re talking with!
- If you receive an email from someone claiming to be from a company that you have previously done business with, do not open it! It could be a scammer trying to get your personal information and identity!
- If someone asks for your help in finding another person (one of your friends or family members), do not give them any information without doing some research first! (You can learn more about this here: https://www.scamadviser.com/how-to-spot-a-scam/)
- If you are asked to send money or any other type of payment, do not send it! It could be a scammer trying to get your personal information and identity!
- Do not give out any personal information over the phone or via email unless you know who you’re talking with!
- If someone asks for your help in finding another person (one of your friends or family members), do not give them any information without doing some research first! (You can learn more about this here: https://www.scamadviser.com/how-to-spot-a-scam/)
What Are The Features Of Scammers?
- Scammers will try to use different techniques to gain your trust.
- They may pretend to be someone or something you know, such as a friend, relative or business associate.
- They will use common phrases and expressions that you might hear from your friends or family members, such as “How are you?” and “I’m worried about you.”
- They will often tell stories that they think will make them look like a good person and convince you of their good intentions. For example, they might say: “My mother had a brain tumor removed last week and she’s doing much better now.”
- They may make promises that sound too good to be true: “I’ll give you $10,000 in 30 days if you invest with me,” for example.
- There are many ways scammers can trick people into giving out their personal information over the phone or through email. It’s important to resist these tricks!
What Can A Hacker Do With Your Phone Number?
- There are several ways that scammers can use your phone number to get to you.
- They can call and pretend to be someone you know and try to trick you into giving them your information.
- They can call and pretend to be someone with a government agency and try to trick you into giving them your personal information.
- They can send an email pretending to be from a company or government agency and ask for personal information, such as Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, credit card numbers, passwords or other sensitive information. In order to protect yourself from these types of scams, do not give out any personal information over the phone or via email unless you know who you’re talking with!
What To Do If My Phone Has Been Hacked?
- If your phone has been hacked, you can do two things.
- First, contact your service provider (such as a cell phone provider or cable company) and report the incident. They will send out a technician to check your account and take steps to protect your phone number from further use by scammers.
- Second, contact the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft Hotline at 888-438-4338 for help filing a complaint about identity theft. The Identity Theft Hotline can also help you file a police report and get a copy of the police report if it is needed for legal purposes.
What Is The Way Of Saving From Scammers?
- Never give out your personal information over the phone or via email unless you know who you’re talking with!
- If someone is asking for money or help, listen carefully to what they are saying and why they want it.
- If you feel that you have been the victim of a scam, report it to the police or your local company security.
- Do not send money to anyone unless you are absolutely sure they are who they say they are and can prove it!
- Don’t give out any personal information online unless you know who you’re talking with!
- Do not accept friend requests from people you don’t know.
- Don’t share any details about your personal life online!
- Be careful with what information you share online!
- Don’t give out your information over the phone or via email unless you know who you’re talking with!
- Never share any details about your personal life online!
The Bottom Line
Just because someone is asking you for money in an attempt to scam them, it doesn’t mean that they are a legitimate scammer. The best way to protect yourself against scamming is to be aware of the red flags that could be warning signs and to report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
Faq’s
What is a “Red Flag”?
A red flag is something that could be warning you of a possible scammer. For instance, the phone number may appear to be an Australian or New Zealand number, but there’s no way to verify it as genuine and the caller may be trying to trick you into giving up personal information.
What is a “scammer”?
A scammer can be anyone who attempts to trick you into handing over money or information by pretending to be someone they’re not (for example, an Australian government official, your bank manager or your employer). Scammers have been known to pose as trusted family members, friends or loved ones in order to trick their victims into handing over their personal details.
Do I have to pay for my internet?
No you don’t have to pay for your internet but if you do then it will come at a cost! If you are looking for a flat rate broadband package from Telstra then we suggest that you look at our broadband bundles , which include access and installation costs as part of the price of the service! Remember, if there are any additional charges on top of the monthly subscription then it would be your responsibility to pay those charges on top of what Telstra has already charged you! For more information visit our Broadband Information page.
