| Though there may be times when caller ID spoofing is | | | | may not get someone to talk, but it can confirm a |
| harmless, those using it often know that you will not | | | | number and even a location. |
| pick up the phone if you knew the true origin of the | | | | Most troublesome would be the use of caller ID |
| call. This is not something that everyone will have to | | | | spoofing to steal identity or to harass someone. If |
| deal with, but the practice is more common than you | | | | someone has some information on you, but needs |
| may think. There are many reasons why someone | | | | more to get credit in your name, they may use pretext |
| would choose to use caller ID spoofing when calling | | | | to call your friends and family in the hopes that they |
| your home, and these are all things that any consumer | | | | will get them to say what the thief needs to know. |
| should know about for their own protection and | | | | They can use the caller ID spoof to make your loved |
| privacy. | | | | ones believe the call is coming from someone they |
| One of the most harmless uses of caller ID spoofing is | | | | trust or from a legitimate company. Along the same |
| by collection agencies. These are people who do have | | | | lines, this same thing is used in conjunction with scams |
| legitimate business with you, but they may not have | | | | to get you to sign up for an offer or service that you |
| had any success in contacting you. Most do not use | | | | would naturally assume is coming from a company |
| call spoofing, but some of them do. The number they | | | | that you trust. |
| use will vary, but the result is all the same. They want | | | | Though you can find the owner of a phone number |
| to get you to answer the phone, and will try to | | | | here, this may not always get you what you need. It |
| accomplish this by pretending to be someone else. | | | | doesn’t hurt to try though. Any information you can |
| Another reason caller ID spoofing is used can be on | | | | get will be helpful if you are the victim of fraud or |
| the iffy side. Some law enforcement may use this, | | | | identity theft. When in doubt about any number calling |
| along with private investigators, to get someone to | | | | your home, even if the number is something familiar, let |
| answer a call. This is not common, but it has been | | | | your answering machine do the screening for you. |
| done. When someone does not wish to be found, they | | | | Those with real and legitimate business with you will |
| will not answer the phone for just any number. Some | | | | often leave a message. Those that do not may have |
| will use caller ID spoofing by using a number that would | | | | something to hide. |
| feel safe to the target to get them to pick up. This | | | | |