How you can protect yourself against scammers

Telephone fraud is widespread and even cautious users can fall for the tricks of experienced scammers.

Whether it concerns shock conversations, the well -known but still successful grandchildren, or assumed calls from banks and authorities, the scams used by criminals, are becoming increasingly advanced. They want our fear, willingness to help or utilize curiosity, combined with a lack of appropriate risk consciousness.

The consequences are often serious, ranging from financial loss to significant emotional stress. But there is also good news: if you stay alert, act carefully and use modern technology in a targeted way, you can effectively protect yourself against attempt at fraud.

In this article we show you how you can recognize typical scams used by telephone fraudsters and what specific measures can help you protect yourself against calls to your mobile phone or landline.

Typical scams: What to expect at the moment

Fraud calls can look very different, but usually follow similar psychological patterns. Especially if you have older people in your family, it can be useful to talk to them about the subject and the typical tricks used by criminals, so that they are warned.

Here are the most common scams at the time of writing:

The KleinkinTruc

This scam has been around for a long time, but unfortunately it is still often successful.

Here is how it works. An alleged family member calls in tears or contacts you via WhatsApp with a new number (the old mobile phone is supposedly stolen or lost).

The potential family member then claims to be in emergencies-for example after an accident-where money is urgently needed for an operation or for a lawyer.

The Kleinkind trick is often aimed at seniors (hence the name) because they are supposed to be very helpful and technically naive.

Tip: Once about one Code Word Within your immediate family who only know authorized family members. With this you can clearly identify yourself on the phone if a Dodgy Call is done.

Fake police officers or bank employees

Fraudsters act as government employees, such as the police or a bank. It has been stated a data theft or a burglary – now your money is in danger and you need to be urgently protected. Potential victims are then asked to transfer cash or to make bank transfers.

Remark: Real authorities or bank employees do not call to request money transfers or the return of valuables.

Technical support

The phone is switching and it is Microsoft – reportedly. The fraudsters also like to use Apple or other IT service providers as an excuse.

The scam: smartphones or computers are reportedly infected with malware and you urgently need to carry out maintenance from distance. As soon as you give access, malware is installed, personal information is spied on or your bank account will be emptied.

Important: Renowned companies do not make unsolicited phone calls. Cancel such calls immediately.

Lottery prices and fake competitions

You answer the phone and hear a voice: “Congratulations, you won!”. Well, that would be nice – but it is usually not true.

These callers first demand a “fee” for sending the prize or activating the winning account. You have probably guessed it: the victims never see the paid reimbursements or the alleged price.

Ping calls

The phone only passes a few seconds, and that is part of the scam. The goal is that you call curiosity again.

The annoying surprise comes with the next account of mobile phones: the number often hides an expensive international connection or a so -called “premium service” with high costs per minute. Sometimes money is even automatically debited.

Typical kit codes in such cases: 216 (Tunisia), 252 (Somalia), 387 (Bosnia). Note: These kit codes can also change, so you must always be careful with unknown international calls.

Shock conversations

You answer a call and suddenly a hysterical voice tells you about the alleged (and often serious) accident of a family member, an arrest or another terrible catastrophe.

As soon as the scammers have successfully put the caller in a shock, money or other requirements follow. The strategy: in a state of emotional emergency situations, victims are supposed to act Rashly and to be fleeced more easily.

Recognize warning signals – how you can look through the scammers

If you recognize typical scams and listen carefully to dubious callers, you can effectively protect yourself against scammed because most telephone scammers follow a similar pattern.

They rely on pressure, fear, stress or confusion. If you remain attentive, recognize typical warning signals and you will not be put under pressure, you can often see even advanced scam after just a few sentences. A healthy distrust is the best protection here.

These are the typical characteristics of telephone scammers and their psychological tricks:

• Emotional edition/blackmail: Callers try to create fear, pressure or pity. Example: “I have no one else and I am desperate, please help me!”
• Threats: “If you don’t act immediately, I will press costs!”. Loss of money or damage to family members can also be threatened.
• High urgency: Crooks relies on time pressure, so that victims act as quickly and rushed as possible without family members or acquaintances.
• Hidden numbers or foreign kit codes: Calls are often anonymous or come from a telephone number of international origin.
• Foreign language: Fraud calls are sometimes done with the help of fragmentary language or a noticeable accent.

What to do in an emergency

Do you suspect that you have a fraud on the line? Here you can read how you can respond correctly:

• Ask specific questions: Fraudsters quickly become entangled in contradictions when they are confronted with specific questions. For example: “What is the full name of my grandson?” Or “which office do you call exactly?”
• Don’t be hurried: Serious callers will understand whether you want to get a second opinion or want to continue the conversation later. If someone insists on an immediate or hasty decision, be very careful.
• Speak out loud: Just indicate out loud what you do. For example: “I’m going to call the police now and sort this out”. Crooks will then quickly end the call.
• Hanging is your right: You don’t have to justify anyone or listen to someone on the phone. If something strange looks like, hang up – it’s better to hang too quickly than too late.
• Check the telephone number before calling back: Use a search engine or online services such as those who called me? Or Truecaller to check suspicious telephone numbers.
• Talk to acquaintances and especially older family members: Older people in particular, are often not up-to-date on scams online or on their smartphones.

Technical protective measures: get the hardware to help you

With the right settings and suitable hardware you can make it harder for Crooks to drop you off.

Improve the protection of the scam on your smartphone

Activate Calling block: iOS and Android enable you to automatically filter unknown or blocked numbers. And this is how it works:

• iOS: Settings> Telephone> Mute unknown callers mute
• Android (Depending on the manufacturer): Telephone -App> Settings> Blocked numbers

Install the calls of the caller recognition: These tools compare numbers with databases and warn of well -known scammers or their usual figures. Popular apps include for example:

Improve the protection of the scam on your fixed line

With the right strategies and suitable devices you can also prepare an effective defense against scammers and fraudsters on fixed lines.

Use telephones with a blocking function: Lots of modern DECT (digital improved wireless telecommunications) phones from Gigaset, Panasonic and other manufacturers offer block frames or even automatic blocking of calls with a suppressed number.

Put on a blacklist/white frame: Some devices and routers enable you to allow or block numbers specifically.

See if your provider offers protection: Many telephone service providers enable you to block certain calls via an app or online website.

What to do if you receive a suspected spam call

If you receive a suspicious call, always stay calm and prefer to hang immediately. Do not respond to questions or pressure, do not reveal information and always be suspicious.

If you are not sure during the interview, call the actual institution yourself after you have been hung – for example your bank or the local police. Very important: always use the official number and Not the one who has been left by the previous caller.

It is best to document the incident, ie:

• Write the phone number
• Note the content of the call
• If necessary, submit a complaint to the police

You can also report suspected scam calls to the National Cyber ​​Security Center in the UK or the Federal Trade Commission in the US.

Tips for daily life

These five simple rules will help you minimize the daily risk of scams and to prevent them from falling for the sometimes very smart scammers:

• Be economically with your contact details. Especially with online competitions or on dubious/unknown websites.
• Never call back. If an unknown number only goes short, or if you have missed an international call that you cannot explain.
• Talk to older family members. They are often the target of such scams.
• Use a neutral answering machine. Do not give your full name in the greeting if possible, so that you give away less information.
• Use an online service To have private data removed from the network.

If you know the common scams used by Crooks, take warning signals seriously and use modern technology, you can recognize SCAM calls more easily and effectively repel them. Our last tip: stay vigilant and openly talk about the subject, especially with older people in your area.