| A recent ABC News report revealed yet another tool | | | | the name of your bank and their phone number. You |
| that thieves are using to scam unsuspecting | | | | answer the call and the person on the other end clams |
| consumers. It's called Caller Id Spoofing, and it requires | | | | to be a representative of the bank warning you of an |
| almost no special skills or equipment to pull it off. How | | | | issue with your account. They sound just like a typical |
| is it done? The thieves just call you over the phone. | | | | customer service representative, and all seems normal. |
| The trick is in the caller ID. | | | | They proceed to ask you to verify your account |
| Anyone can now choose the phone number that will | | | | information (account number, social security number, |
| be displayed or "spoofed" on your caller ID. Caller ID | | | | PIN number, etc). The truth is that they could be calling |
| spoofing services and software are actually available | | | | from anywhere and, once they get your info, they can |
| to purchase legally. The service or software will allow | | | | access your accounts and wreak havoc on your |
| anyone to determine what phone number they want | | | | finances. |
| to display. Some services even offer to disguise the | | | | Even though many people are on the lookout for |
| voice of the caller and record the conversation. There | | | | phony phone calls, the spoofed number has made this |
| are legitimate purposes for these services, such as | | | | seem like a legitimate call. They've broken through one |
| secret shopping, or calls from battered women's | | | | of your trusted security barriers. So how can you |
| shelters. Several states have made it illegal to mislead, | | | | avoid this scam? Call the bank yourself. Don't give out |
| defraud, or deceive the recipient of the spoofed phone | | | | any of your personal information to someone who |
| calls. It's also illegal in some states to record a | | | | calls you, no matter how official they may seem. Just |
| conversation without the recipient's consent. However, | | | | tell the person who calls you that you'll call them back |
| none of these rules matter to the thieves who are | | | | at the number on your caller ID. This way, you can be |
| trying to empty your bank accounts. | | | | sure that you're talking to a real representative. If |
| Here's an example of how Caller ID spoofing Works: | | | | there's no problem when you do reach your bank, then |
| Your phone rings. You look at the caller ID and it reads | | | | you know you just avoided being spoofed. |