Top tips is a weekly column where we highlight what’s trending in the tech world today and list out ways to explore these trends. This week, we’re showing you how to spot a fraud call and avoid getting scammed.
Microsoft, AT&T, the FBI, and the IRS—what do these four entities have in common? Most likely, you or someone you know has received a call from somebody impersonating these entities. It’s important to remember that these companies would never call you without sending some sort of documented notification of any time-sensitive action you need to take. Shockingly, one in four Americans still fell victim to scam calls in 2023.
It’s heartbreaking to hear stories of senior citizens losing their life savings to such fraudsters. Unfortunately, these scams work better on the weak and gullible, and with recent advancements in AI and ML, things aren’t getting any better.
Staying aware of phone scams and exercising foresight is critical to avoid getting ripped off. There are multiple red flags that you need to watch out for that can give you clear indicators of a scam. Here are the five most glaring signs that you’re about to be defrauded over the phone.
1. Unsolicited and out of the blue
First things first, you are highly unlikely to receive a call from Microsoft, especially if you are not a customer. Most tech companies offer their solutions or services on a pay-to-play basis, which means you will never be in debt to them.
Further, it’s unusual to get called up by the IRS randomly. In any case of a tax dispute or claim, the IRS would always send you a notice first via email or mailed letter. Only if that hasn’t been actioned within the stipulated time frame would an agent be dispatched to your doorstep or call you on the phone.
Therefore, proceed with caution whenever you are confronted by one of these phone fraudsters and nip any sort of unsolicited financial discussions in the bud.
2. Personal information being requested
If you’re a customer of any product, most likely the company already has your personal information. And if someone from that company calls you for anything, the onus is on them to prove their authenticity by reading back your details to you, and not the other way around. So, if you ever receive a call asking you to verify your full name, email address, or any other piece of personal information, this is your cue to tell them to go flog themselves, and hang up.
3. Intimidation and scare tactics
Scammers know how to effectively use high-pressure tactics to convince their victims to take immediate action. They persuade through coercion, using threats of legal action, arrest, and prison time to get you to make payments. Sometimes, you may also hear threats of violence and intimidation, such as agents being sent to your doorstep to arrest you or intimidate you if the requested payment is not made.
No reputed organization would ever resort to such tactics in order to solicit payment from their customers. A severe lack of professionalism in communication is a dead giveaway that you’re going to get scammed if you give into their demands.
4. Unusual payment methods
Ever heard of AT&T taking overdue payments through Amazon gift cards? Neither have we, because it would never happen. Most scam callers request a specific or preferred mode of payment, and this should set off your alarm bells. Any request for alternate modes of payment, such as gift cards, wire transfers, or prepaid debit cards, is an indicator of a scam call, and this is where you should end the conversation.
5. Bad grammar and a heavy accent
Let’s face it—the top countries known for phone scams are Nigeria and India, and if there’s one thing they’re not known for, it’s their English articulation. The first thing you must watch out for is an unfamiliar accent claiming to be from an agency within the United States. Scammers from these countries are given accent training up to a certain level, but most will not be able to execute this efficiently, resulting in garbled words stitched together in confusing sentences and unintelligible phrases.
Likewise, scammers are only trained to recite sales pitches, scripts, and threats in order to achieve the required results, and anything outside of this, such as small talk or pleasantries, is out of the syllabus. You might ask the guy how he’s doing, to which he’d reply, “Just doing my job, ma’am.” The exceptions are few and far between, but either way, it’s not advisable to make small talk with these people, especially if there are bad intentions in the mix.
Telephone scammers will go to the lowest of lows to extract your money from you and will show no signs of remorse in doing so. Governments of the countries where these undesirables operate must take swift and immediate action to eliminate such illegal activities by performing regular crackdowns, creating awareness, and addressing corruption in general. But until these measures are taken, which may be later than sooner, it will benefit you greatly to keep these points in mind and refrain from making poor decisions over the phone that you might regret later.
