Neighbor Spoofing: What You Need to Know

Sep 05, 2018 Safety & Security

Scammers are using fake caller IDs to trick you into picking up the phone. Learn how you can protect your personal information.

A woman holding a cell phone, she appears to be frustrated.

Have you been receiving phone calls from numbers that look similar or identical to yours? Chances are you’re a victim of neighbor spoofing, along with thousands of other people in the United States. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently issued a $120 million fine to a telemarketer for spoofed robocalls, the largest fine ever in FCC history.

What is Neighbor Spoofing?

Con artists and scammers are using a new technique called neighbor spoofing to get individuals to pick up the phone and share personal information. People typically don’t answer the phone for an out-of-state or blocked number, so scammers had to get creative.

The scammer will use a phone spoofing program to call someone using a phone number that’s very similar to theirs. The idea is that the victim will answer, thinking it’s someone they know. Once they answer, it’s possible they can fall into a bigger trap by answering questions or pushing buttons for the scammer.

Tips for Avoiding Phone Spoofing Scams

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