Protecting Yourself From Spam Calls & Texts

A man in white room wearing a brown jacket yells into a rotary landline phone.

Apple urged iPhone users recently to update their iOS with a patch for a critical security flaw that allowed hackers to launch spyware that monitors users' keystrokes; the malware is launched through text messages. This is just one of the latest examples of the dangers associated with a growing problem in the US and Canada: spam text messages. Spam messages and calls are annoying, and can be costly, but they are also a gateway for bad actors to do much more damage. If you need help recovering from a security breach or identity theft, our legal subscription plans and identity theft packages are great, low cost solutions. In the meantime, here are a few tips for handling spam texts and calls.

It's Against The Law

Text message marketing without the end users' consent is against the law in both Canada and the United States. But anyone who has dealt with a spam attack knows that the perpetrators are often hard to track down and prosecute. They change phones, numbers, and locations frequently, and often use technology that shields them from being discovered. Providers of cell phone services are working to provide services that block spam, but spammers and hackers are working just as hard to circumvent those measures.

A Few Tips For Dealing With Spam Texts

• Do not engage with a spammer by replying to messages

• Never click links in texts! Clicking links can lead to malware and viruses and, in worst case scenarios, losing money or having your identity stolen

• Do an Internet search for numbers you don't recognize and see if they are in spam reporting databases

• Do not visit web sites sent to you in texts, even if they're not a link.

• Never respond to free offers unless it's from a sender you recognize

• Cell phone consumers in the US and Canada can report spam texts by forwarding them to your cell phone provider at 7726 (SPAM)

• You can also ask your provider to block texts that come from the Internet, and while it won't block spam sent from a cell phone, it can eliminate some unwanted spam messages

Phone Scams

Scammers continue to use the telephone to steal millions of dollars from people every year. One popular tactic is to impersonate the IRS and harass victims until they make payments or reveal personal identifying information. This scam has targeted nearly half a million people in the United States, and the IRS has even created a dedicated web site to report these calls. Remember: the IRS will NEVER contact you by phone, text, or email. The IRS will ALWAYS contact you via the USPS mail.

Thieves use similar tactics to steal credit card information, using robo-calls to "warn" you that your credit or debit card has been locked. The automated calls prompt you to then enter your credit or debit card information to "unlock your card." These scams, called "vishing" (short for voicemail phishing), urge you to reveal private information that will be used to attempt to steal from you, steal your identity, or other fraudulent uses. Like other types of scam calls, these calls usually rely on too-good-to-be-true offers or dire threats. The rule of thumb is to never give out personal information - especially your credit card or Social Security numbers - over the phone unless you made the call.

Some calls are legal, such as calls from political candidates, charities, or reminders from businesses where you are a customer, such as your bank or insurance company. But be wary of calls received from businesses where you haven't consented to receive such communications.

Be wary of any call that asks for your personal information to activate a perk or retain access to your bank accounts or credit cards. Your best bet is hang up and call the business back to verify the veracity of the claims.

Advice For Phone Scams

• Never trust caller ID - scammers have the ability and technology to mask their real numbers or to spoof someone else's number without their knowledge

• Never share personal information over the phone unless you called them. Businesses you interact with likely already have your information

• Don't overreact if the caller threatens you with lawsuits, arrests, or losing access to your bank account or cards.

• Never press a number or stay on the line for a live person. Doing so can let spammers know that they have a "live" number

• Never call back the number that called you or visit any web sites mentioned in the call. Instead, call the company's customer service line listed on their official web site

• Contact your service provider to see about the possibility of blocking the number that called you. Keep in mind that the number you saw on your caller ID may be spoofed from a completely innocent person

• If the scam involved someone pretending to represent the IRS, make sure to report the call at the IRS reporting web site. For all other calls, report them to FTC.

The basic thing to remember if you're contacted by a suspected scammer is to NEVER give out ANY personal information. If you want to learn more about how to protect yourself from scammers and identity theft, check out our Identity Theft Protection Services for individuals and families, and if you have legal concerns from a previous encounter with a scammer, learn how our network of attorneys can help you resolve the situation faster and easier than you can on your own, and for a lot less than you might imagine. Sign up today!