Recognize and prevent phone scams

Unwanted calls may be scams, sales pitches, or other annoyances. They may also be fraudulent or illegal. Caller ID spoofing occurs when a caller purposely displays incorrect caller ID information. Often this is done to try and commit fraud or otherwise cause harm to the recipient of the call. Spoofing can include robocalling, phone spamming, phantom debt collection, and voice phishing.

Phone scam tactics
Phone scams can be difficult to detect, so pay special attention to calls that:

• Request that you verify personal data (such as your Social Security number).
• Ask you visit a website that appears to be affiliated with AT&T or another company.
• Use an automated voice instructing you to return their call.
• Instruct you to return their call at a different phone number than the one shown by Caller ID.
• Claim to be a computer technician with a technical support company requesting remote access to your computer.
• Claim you have won a sweepstakes, contest, or other item of value.
• Claim you owe a debt or fine and ask that you take care of it today.
• Request you provide a PIN, password, or passcode by phone if you didn’t initiate the request or ask for an update to your account, service, or profile.