Nobody likes being blamed for something they haven\u2019t done. It\u2019s irritating, it\u2019s unfair and in extreme cases \u2014 like unwarranted firing or wrongful conviction \u2014 it\u2019s genuinely harmful. Having someone spoof your phone number won\u2019t impact your life to such a degree, but it can still be inconvenient. Even worse, it puts your own friends, family and colleagues at higher risk of being scammed or defrauded. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When caller ID was new, telephone systems still ran on old-school copper wires. Each phone company\u2019s central computer knew the name and number corresponding to a specific set of wires and would display them on demand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the advent of fiber optics, cellular telephones and the voice-over internet protocol (VoIP), that all changed.\u00a0 Caller ID will still usually provide the real number where a landline or cellular call originates, but the name (and the number as well, for a VoIP call) is looked up in a computerized calling-name database<\/a>, or CNAM.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s possible, and legitimate, to have the CNAM report the name or number you choose.\u00a0 For example, a company that spends millions on advertising to drill its catchy phone number into your memory wants you to see that<\/em> number, even if it has thousands of other internal lines.\u00a0 Unfortunately, scammers and hackers can use that same feature to make your caller ID lie to you. That\u2019s phone spoofing.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scammers use spoofed phone numbers for several reasons.\u00a0 One is simply camouflage:\u00a0 They can make scam calls without revealing their own number.\u00a0 More often, it\u2019s used to tilt the odds in favor of their call being answered or their story believed.\u00a0 Scammers pretending to call from the IRS or the Social Servi<\/a>c<\/a>e Administration<\/a> can spoof the published numbers for those agencies, for example.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n A subtler form of the same attack is called \u201cneighbor spoofing.\u201d<\/a>\u00a0 A lot of us won\u2019t field calls from unknown toll-free numbers or out-of-state numbers, but we\u2019ll take a chance on picking up if the call comes from our local area code (\u201cHmm, might be one of the neighbors\u2026\u201d).\u00a0 If your own number is spoofed, this is often why it happens:\u00a0 Your number just happened to be the one the scammers randomly settled on.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scammers may also choose your number in order to target your friends, family and coworkers. They\u2019re the ones most likely to take your call, of course, or to click on a text received from your phone. That\u2019s especially true if you\u2019re in a position of influence or responsibility, or if you\u2019re well known in your local community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your phone itself won\u2019t tell you it\u2019s being spoofed (unless you get a call from your own number, which is a dead giveaway).\u00a0 It won\u2019t suddenly stop working, and it won\u2019t behave erratically as it sometimes will if it\u2019s hacked or infected with malware<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead you\u2019ll see a range of direct and indirect signs that something odd is going on, including: <\/p>\n\n\n\n If any of those things have been happening to you, you can turn to Spokeo for another form of indirect confirmation.\u00a0 Search your own number with our reverse phone l<\/a>o<\/a>okup<\/a>, and then check the box where your number\u2019s phone reputation score is displayed.\u00a0 While it will show as a legitimate number, you may see a sudden rash of searches or complaints.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s not conclusive, but it might give weight to your suspicions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you realize that your phone number has been spoofed, the first thing you\u2019ll need to do is reach out to your friends, family and colleagues (everyone on your contacts list, in short) and also the companies you do business with, such as your bank or credit card company. Let them know that someone else is initiating calls or texts from your number, and warn them to be wary of them (and to check with you if they\u2019re in any doubt about whether a given call is legit). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your next step is to report these calls to the authorities.\u00a0 There\u2019s a weird gap in the statutes covering phone spoofing, because for it to be illegal under the Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009<\/a> the calls must be made with the deliberate intention of causing harm or perpetrating fraud.\u00a0 Nuisance calls, or harassment that doesn\u2019t rise to criminal levels, won\u2019t do it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n That being said, it\u2019s worth reporting anyway. Most spoofed calls are fraudulent in purpose, and authorities can pursue certain avenues for investigation and potential prosecution. Some places you could or should report the incident include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n If the spoofed calls continue for an extended period, or are especially intrusive, or if you have<\/em> been targeted specifically, you may ultimately need to change your phone number. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s the \u201cnuclear option,\u201d because you\u2019ll expend a lot of time and energy letting everyone know your new number. Also, resetting your login credentials on sites and apps that use your phone number as your username or unique identifier is a real pain. Most phone carriers will allow you to change your number for free, especially if you\u2019ve been the victim of fraud or spoofing (that\u2019s why you notify them about it), though some may charge a small fee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Otherwise, your best bet \u2014 once you\u2019ve made the necessary reports \u2014 is just to wait it out. Unless you\u2019ve been targeted individually, the scammers will usually exploit your number for a few days or weeks and then move on. It makes for a difficult time, and you may have a number of apologies to make, but it\u2019s temporary and passes relatively quickly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As these things go, it\u2019s (usually) a relatively minor annoyance within the world of fraudulent criminal activity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n References<\/span>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n OnSIP – How Caller ID Works:\u00a0 Common Questions and Answers<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Better Business Bureau – BBB Scam Alert:\u00a0 Neighbor Spoofing Is a Common Type of Phone Scam<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n WTHR Indianapolis – Oh No!\u00a0 I\u2019ve Been Spoofed!:\u00a0 What To Do When Your Number Is Used To Make Robocalls<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n GovInfo.gov (U.S. Government Publishing Office) – Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n U.S. Federal Communications Commission – Consumer Complaint Center<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n U.S. Federal Trade Commission – Report To Help Fight Fraud!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy Would Your Number Be Spoofed?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How To Know if Your Phone Number Is Being Spoofed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What To Do if Your Phone Number Is Being Spoofed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Recovering From Having Your Phone Number Spoofed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n