Call forwarding scams involve fraudsters tricking victims into activating call forwarding on their phones. Once activated, all calls to the victim's number are redirected to the scammer's phone, allowing them to intercept sensitive information and bypass security measures.
Common Tactics
- Impersonation: Scammers pose as customer service representatives or technical support agents from a trusted organization.
- Phishing: Victims receive messages or calls with instructions to dial specific codes to resolve an issue or improve service.
- Urgent Requests: Claims that immediate action is required to prevent account suspension or to fix a technical problem.
Safety Tips
-
Verify Caller Identity: Always verify the identity of the caller independently before following any instructions. Contact the organization directly using official contact information.
-
Do Not Dial Unknown Codes: Avoid dialing any codes or following instructions from unsolicited calls or messages, especially those claiming to be from service providers.
-
Understand Call Forwarding Codes: Familiarize yourself with call forwarding and call diversion codes for your telecom service to recognize suspicious activity.
-
Monitor Phone Settings: Regularly check your phone's call forwarding settings to ensure no unauthorized changes have been made.
-
Enable Security Features: Use PINs and passwords to secure your phone settings and prevent unauthorized changes.
-
Educate and Inform: Educate family members and colleagues about the risks and tactics of call forwarding scams to ensure collective vigilance.
By staying informed and cautious, you can protect yourself from call forwarding cyber scams. Always verify requests and maintain control over your phone settings to safeguard your personal information.
Read this magazine for more details.
Happy Learning, Stay Tuned!