Phone scam
A major ongoing phone scam that should be monitored might appear as if it originates from the United States, but actually doesn’t.
Criminals
“Criminals have been known to use caller IDs with the area code 473, which appears to be domestic, but is actually the area code for the island of Grenada,” says Joseph Steinberg, CEO of SecureMySocial.
Fraudulent
Be cautious of these fraudulent phone schemes that have the potential to swindle your money as well.
Foreign countries
Furthermore, these calls can accumulate quickly. AARP warns that you may incur charges for receiving calls from certain foreign countries. Additionally, scammers can deceive you with fake vacation offers, fabricated tales of emergencies or financial troubles.
Concern
The prevalence of iPhone and Uber scams is increasing, causing concern among Apple enthusiasts and Uber patrons. It is essential to be vigilant and learn how to identify and avoid Uber scams, as well as prevent spam messages on your phone.
Unfamiliar
For added security, Steinberg advises against answering or returning calls from unfamiliar numbers. If the caller is someone you know, they can leave a voicemail for you to respond to.
Distress
“Remember that it’s unlikely that someone you do not know—who is in distress at a location with which you are not familiar—would dial a random number in another country and ask you to help them,” he says. “They would call the police.”
It’s wise to exercise caution when dealing with potential scam phone numbers linked to international area codes. Additionally, be on the lookout for fraudulent activities on Facebook Marketplace to protect yourself while shopping online.
Area codes
Here are area codes to avoid phone calls from: 232 — Sierra Leone, 242 — Bahamas, 246 — Barbados, 268 — Antigua, 284 — British Virgin Islands, 345 — Cayman Islands, 441 — Bermuda, 473 — Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique, 649 — Turks and Caicos
Avoid
Here are more area codes to avoid phone calls from: 664 — Montserrat, 721 — Sint Maarten, 758 — St. Lucia, 767 — Dominica, 784 — St. Vincent and Grenadines, 809, 829, and 849 — The Dominican Republic, 868 — Trinidad and Tobago, 869 — St. Kitts and Nevis, and 876 — Jamaica.
Scammers
It is crucial to understand that scammers have the ability to generate fraudulent phone numbers by spoofing various area codes, not just the ones mentioned earlier. A general rule of thumb is to refrain from answering calls from unfamiliar numbers and let them go to voicemail. This practice can help you steer clear of common phone scams, including deceptive car warranty calls.
Charged
In the event that you are charged for answering a scam call, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) advises reaching out to your phone service provider to address the issue. You can also report the scam call to the FCC.
Hacking
Furthermore, educate yourself about prevalent online scams and how to avoid them. Additionally, familiarize yourself with what doxxing entails and the risks it poses in terms of potential hacking incidents.