Protecting Yourself from Phone Call Scams: Tips and Best Practices
Phone Call scams are no doubt a menace in today's society. What is worrying is that they are getting increasingly sophisticated by the minute, and the people behind them are more daring than ever.
Scammers have started impersonating everyone from government agencies to bank representatives, leaving unsuspecting victims in a world of problems.
So, how do you combat this? This blog holds the answer to this as it delves into the strategies to avoid scammers and stay secure.
Tips and Tricks to Avoid Being Scammed
A little presence of mind, awareness, and alertness can go a long way in sniffing out a phone call scam. Here aresome key points to keep in mind the next time you get a potential spam call:
Pay Attention to the Caller ID
Most of us pick up a call without even looking at the caller ID. This can prove to be a fatal mistake. Caller ID Verification is essential; the more sophisticated scammers "spoof" their numbers to appear legitimate, while others seem a bit off.
If it's an unfamiliar number, don't answer the call. Always verify the Caller ID before calling back.
Don't Fall for "Too Good to Be True" Offers
An out-of-the-blue call stating that you have won a prize or money or are offering an amazing deal is a dead give away of a spam call. Say you are not interested and disconnect the call right away. Remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Beware of Unsolicited Calls Asking for Personal Information
No legitimate organisation will call you out of the blue and ask you for your personal information via a cold call. If they insist or claim to represent a specific organisation, ask them for their contact details and tell them you will get back to them.
Use Official Contact Information Only
If a call does sound important, look up the contact details of the organisation from their official website (avoid using Google, too, as scammers have managed manipulate business listings in the past) and call them back. Never call back on the number they give you.
Get Registered on NDNC
The Do Not Call Registry (NDNC) is a service run by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) that allows you to block unwanted telemarketing calls and messages from registered companies in India. All you have to do to get on its Do Not Call List is SMS with "START 0" to 1909 to enable this for your number.
Be Cautious of Tech Support Scams
Tech support scams involve supposed representatives of software or a device you are using calling you with various deceitful tactics. These scammers might offer to either fix a problem, claim to improve performance or upgrade your device or software in a guide to get information out of you. In a lot of cases, they connect remotely to your device and extract crucial personal information. If you have requested some tech support from a company, verify its legitimacy before sharing information.
The above tips will help you stay one step ahead of scammers, but you still need to take an extra step to secure yourself from unsolicited calls. That said, there is one trump card you can play that will stop unwanted calls altogether.
Doosra: An Advanced Solution to Combat Scam Calls
Meet Doosra, India's first virtual number provider, with one goal in mind: block spam calls. It works via an app that provides you with a Virtual Phone Number in India without having to get an additional SIM or a secondary device.
It allows you to whitelist your trusted contacts, and only those on this list will be able to call you directly. All other calls get blocked automatically with the option of leaving a voicemail if they really need to get in touch with you.
The icing on the cake is a secure call back feature that lets you call back unknown numbers without having to reveal your real number. You can also create secret passcodes for specific people who can use them to get past the call blocker.
And finally, your Doora number gets activated instantly.
Get Ahead of Scammers the Doosra Way
Spam callers are never going to stop; however, with Doosra, you have the power to stop all unwanted spam calls directed to you. Oh, and Doosa offers a Virtual phone system for business, too.
So, why wait?
Get yourself a Doosra Number right away, with their annual plans starting as low as Rs 83/- a month!
