Scammers can use technology to fake the name or number on your caller ID. Even when your caller ID shows a local number, it could be a scammer calling from anywhere in the world.
Transcript
Sometimes it's hard to tell if a call is from someone you know or if it's just another scam. That's because scammers can use technology to fake the name or number on your caller ID. Even when your caller ID shows a local number, it could be a scammer calling from anywhere in the world.
The good news? You can block a lot of these calls with mobile apps, internet services, or call blocking devices. Read expert reviews or talk to your carrier to get recommendations for your mobile phone or home phone.
And always report unwanted calls to the FTC. Tell us the number on your caller ID and any number you're told to call back. The FTC releases these numbers each day to help companies working to block unwanted calls. Your complaints also help the FTC and other law enforcement go after the scammers behind these calls.
Learn more about how to block unwanted calls and how to report them at ftc.gov/calls