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I just got a cell call and the caller ID said it was my own number. A robotic voice said it was the service provider and I had been flagged for security. They said to enter the last four digits of my SS, which I did. Then the voice said it was invalid and it ended.
I found some pages saying this is a scam. Scammers use your own number to get around blocking and other security.
Is it possible it wasn't a scam?? Does ATT call people and their own number appears?
Anybody can call you and "Spoof" their phone # to show as any phone # they want to. Even if a a provider's security system did call you they would not need you to provide any part of your Social Security #. I work for a bank and hear these type of stories day in and day out. I guarantee it was a scam. No legitimate service would disguise their phone # to show as yours.
It is called spoofing the number. Search the net for advice. Calling ID without a name is useless.
On home or cell I never answer a number unless I know who it is.
You will now get constant calls because by answering you have confirmed that your's is a working number.
It is a shame that one of the best technologies ever developed has been ruined by telemarketing.
The cell phone and land lines has become useless.
Oh, and never call the number back. It is some poor bastard who is being blamed by the spoof, not the real demon.
You'd think ATT would make it harder for somebody to spoof a number that they are not actually calling from. That's the idea of Caller ID.
What can scammers do with the last four digits of your SS number? I've been asked this as a confirmation when calling the credit card company. But it's usually an extra layer of security, not the main thing.
You are oversimplifying the problem. Most of these scammers are doing this from overseas locations. No cellular carrier or governmental organization can easily block such calls that originate outside the US. You do realize that callers can block their caller ID completely ? A blocked caller ID would not prevent a call from going through to the recipient. In some markets in the US, Caller ID does not work at all.
You misunderstood my earlier point about carriers/banks asking for the last 4 social security #. My point is that they will not ask you for that information if they call you, they can or will ask if you call them. You would be surprised how little information needs to be gathered to commit fraud by the scammers. There were some very useful links posted in this thread by a moderator. I encourage you to read them to better understand the reality.
You are oversimplifying the problem. Most of these scammers are doing this from overseas locations. No cellular carrier or governmental organization can easily block such calls that originate outside the US.
Why is there less security from overseas calls than domestic?
The US regulators have no jurisdiction outside the US. If you suddenly could not receive any calls from a certain state or country, would you be upset ?
You'd think ATT would make it harder for somebody to spoof a number that they are not actually calling from. That's the idea of Caller ID.
What can scammers do with the last four digits of your SS number? I've been asked this as a confirmation when calling the credit card company. But it's usually an extra layer of security, not the main thing.
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