Rockford BBB: Illinois Scammers Using Fake Local Phone Numbers

Here in Illinois and across the country, people are losing tens of billions of dollars to phone scams and scammers every single year. In spite of numerous efforts to alert the public to these scams, between 2021 and this year the numbers of people being scammed via phone has gone up in many categories, not down.

Scammers are increasingly using local area codes to deceive victims, making them more likely to answer the call. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning northern Illinois residents that Chicago area code 312 is number eight on the list of the most often "spoofed" area codes used in scam calls.

Okay...but what exactly does spoofed mean when it comes to scam calls?

Back When You Had To Actually Answer Your Phone To Find Out Who Might Be Calling You, This Sort Of Thing Wasn't A Problem...But In A World Powered By Caller ID, It's Become A Big Problem

At first, Caller ID was such a cool thing, and it still is as long as it's not being used to scam you out of money and your personal information. Looking down at the Caller ID has provided us many opportunities to skip talking with anyone we don't want to talk to, but spoofing Caller ID is helping the bad actors out there get into your wallet.

Spoofing is a technique that allows scammers to trick caller ID into displaying a false number or other information. This can make the call appear more familiar and encourage the recipient to answer when they normally wouldn't.

Scammers can use spoofing to trick you into sharing personal information, sending money, or downloading malicious software. Spoofed numbers may imitate the geographic location of the recipient. For example, if your phone number is (815) xxx-xxxx, a spoofed call will make it look like the call came from your same area code.

According To The Rockford BBB Office, These Scam Calls Are Growing In Frequency And Sophistication

Dennis Horton, director of the Rockford Regional Office of the Better Business Bureau (BBB):

These fake calls are designed to trick unsuspecting individuals into giving up personal information and/or financial details. The scammers use familiar area codes to target individuals, often impersonating legitimate organizations, government agencies, or financial institutions. The intent is to create a sense of urgency, prompting recipients to act quickly without verifying the legitimacy of the call.

Here are what the BBB calls the warning signs of a phone scam:

Unsolicited Calls: Be wary of calls from unknown numbers, especially if the caller asks for personal or financial information.

Urgency and Threats: Scammers often use high-pressure tactics, such as threats of legal action or claims that your account has been compromised.

Requests for Payment: Legitimate organizations will never ask for payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency over the phone.

Spoofed Caller ID: Even though it looks like a local number (based on your area code), don't answer it. Let it go to voicemail, then listen to the message afterwards.

Here are some great ideas for avoiding been scammed by someone who's spoofing your Caller ID: