Phone scams can begin with a call, voicemail or text message that appears to come from someone you trust. The caller may pretend to represent your bank, the police, a government service, a technology company or even a member of your family.
Scammers often try to make you feel worried or rushed. They may say that your account has been hacked, a payment is overdue or someone you love needs urgent help. Their aim is to pressure you into sharing information, sending money or giving them access to your phone or computer.
How can you tell whether a caller is real?
A professional-sounding voice, familiar company name or local phone number does not prove that a call is genuine. Scammers can change the information shown on your screen to make a call appear to come from a trusted organisation.
Watch for these warning signs:
- The call or message is unexpected.
- You are told to act immediately.
- The caller asks you to keep the conversation secret.
- You are threatened with arrest, account closure, fines or financial loss.
- You are asked to transfer money to a “safe account”.
- You are told to pay using gift cards, cryptocurrency, cash or a bank transfer.
- You are asked to install an app or give someone access to your device.
- The caller asks for a password, PIN or security code.
- You are discouraged from hanging up or checking the request yourself.
A genuine organisation should allow you time to stop, check the request and call back using a number you trust.
What information might a phone scammer ask for?
A scammer may ask for:
- Your full name, address or date of birth
- Your bank account or payment card details
- The security code on your card
- Your online banking login details
- Your passwords or passcodes
- A one-time security code sent to your phone
- Your Apple or Microsoft account details
- Copies of identity documents
- Access to your phone, tablet or computer
- Information about your savings or investments
- The names and contact details of family members
Five common phone scams
1. Bank impersonation scams
A caller or text message claims that there has been suspicious activity on your account. You may be told that you need to move your money to a “safe account” or confirm your details immediately.
The message may look convincing and may even appear in the same message thread as genuine texts from your bank.
Do not transfer money or share a security code. End the call and contact your bank using the number on the back of your card or through its official app.
2. Apple Support and Microsoft Support scams
In Apple Support scams, the caller may claim that your Apple account, iPhone or iCloud account has been compromised. They may ask you to visit a website, approve a sign-in request or share a verification code.
In Microsoft Support scams, the caller may say that your computer has a virus or has been accessed by criminals. They may ask you to download software so they can control your device remotely.
Never give an unexpected caller access to your phone or computer. Hang up and contact Apple or Microsoft through their official support channels.
3. Family emergency and grandchild scams
The caller claims to be a child, grandchild or other relative in trouble. They may say that they have been in an accident, arrested or stranded and need money urgently.
The caller may know family names or personal details found online. They may also ask you not to tell anyone because they feel embarrassed or frightened.
Hang up and call your relative directly using the number already saved in your phone. You can also contact another family member to check the story.
4. Government and authority scams
The caller claims to represent the police, tax authority, court or another government organisation. They may say that you owe money, missed a payment or are under investigation.
They may threaten arrest or legal action unless you pay immediately.
Do not pay or provide personal information. Contact the organisation yourself using a telephone number from its official website or a trusted document.
5. Prize, lottery and refund scams
The caller says that you have won a prize, lottery, holiday or refund, but you must first pay a tax, delivery charge or processing fee.
A genuine prize should not require you to pay money before you receive it.
Three newer phone scams to watch for
1. AI phone scams using cloned voices
Some AI phone scams use voice-cloning technology to imitate a family member, friend or colleague. The voice may sound very convincing and claim to need urgent financial help.
Do not rely on the sound of the voice alone. Hang up and call the person back using a number you already know.
2. “Phantom hacker” scams
This type of scam may begin with a pop-up, call, email or text claiming that your device or bank account has been hacked.
You may then speak to several scammers who pretend to represent different organisations. One may claim to work for technical support, another for your bank and another for the government.
They may try to convince you to move your savings, buy cryptocurrency or hand over cash. End the call and contact your bank directly.
3. Delivery, toll and payment text scams
Many text scams claim that you have missed a delivery, owe a road toll, have an unpaid fine or need to confirm a small payment.
The message usually includes a link to a fake website designed to collect your card details, login information or identity documents. These are a type of phishing scam.
Do not select the link. Open the company’s official website or app yourself.
Use a family safe word
Agree on a private word or short phrase that only close family members know.
If someone calls claiming to be a relative who needs urgent help, ask them for the safe word. Then hang up and call the relative back using the number already saved in your phone.
Choose something that is difficult to guess. Avoid birthdays, pet names or other details that may appear on social media.
Families should:
- Choose the safe word together.
- Keep it private.
- Avoid sending it in public messages or social media posts.
- Change it if someone outside the family learns it.
- Remember that a genuine family member will understand why you want to check.
What should you do during a suspicious call?
Stop and take your time.
Do not give the caller information, press buttons, download an app or move money. Hang up, even if the caller tells you not to.
Contact the person or organisation through a trusted channel. Use the telephone number on your bank card, statement, official website or an existing contact saved in your phone.
Do not use a telephone number or link provided by the suspicious caller or message.
It can also help to speak to a friend or family member before doing anything. Scammers often try to isolate people because a second opinion may reveal the scam.
Reporting phone scams
Reporting phone scams can help organisations identify patterns, block fraudulent numbers and warn other customers.
You can:
- Report the call or text to your mobile network.
- Use your phone’s Report junk or Report spam option.
- Forward suspicious messages to your local spam-reporting service, where available.
- Report the scam directly to the company being copied.
- Contact your bank if financial information was involved.
- Report the incident to your local police, fraud service or consumer-protection authority.
Reporting services and contact details vary by country. Use the official reporting service for the country where you live.
What to do if you think you have been scammed
Act as quickly as you can, but do not feel embarrassed. Scammers are skilled at creating convincing stories and placing people under pressure.
- Contact your bank immediately. Ask it to stop or recall payments, freeze cards and secure your account.
- Change affected passwords. Start with your email, banking, Apple, Microsoft and other important accounts.
- Turn on two-step verification where it is available.
- Contact the company that was impersonated through its official support service.
- Remove remote-access software. If someone controlled your device, disconnect it from the internet and get help from someone you trust.
- Check your accounts. Look for payments, new payees, password changes or activity you do not recognise.
- Save the evidence. Keep messages, telephone numbers, screenshots, receipts and payment details.
- Report the scam to your local police or fraud-reporting service.
- Tell someone you trust. A family member or friend can help you complete the next steps.
Be careful if someone contacts you later and promises to recover your money for an upfront fee. This may be another scam.
Remember: stop, hang up and check
The simplest way to protect yourself from mobile phone scams is to pause before acting.
A genuine caller will understand why you want to check.
Share:
Suspicious Text Messages: What to Do and What Not to Click