A local borough resident recently received a call from the number 07496 438116 on her landline, and they didn't leave a message. To be cautious, she decided to do some research and discovered that this number has a negative rating on the who-called site.
Please exercise caution when dealing with calls from unfamiliar numbers like this. Scammers may attempt to obtain your personal information, such as your name, address, or bank account details. They might also try to deceive you into paying for something that doesn't actually exist.
If you find yourself on the receiving end of a call from this number or any other unfamiliar number, it's advisable to hang up immediately and block the number. Additionally, consider reporting the number to the appropriate authorities to help prevent further scam attempts. Stay vigilant and protect your personal information.
Spoofed Numbers: Beware and Stay Informed
A spoofed number is a phone number that has been deliberately altered or masked to appear different from the actual originating number. This can be done for various purposes, both legitimate and malicious. Some common uses of spoofed numbers include:
- Privacy: Some individuals may use number spoofing services to protect their real phone number when making calls. This is often done for safety reasons or to maintain privacy.
- Telemarketing and Cold Calls: Telemarketers and cold callers may use spoofed numbers to make it seem like they are calling from a local area or a recognisable number to increase the likelihood of the call being answered.
- Scam Calls: Scammers frequently use spoofed numbers to impersonate legitimate organizations or government agencies, making it more likely that people will answer and fall for their fraudulent schemes.
- Prank Calls: People can spoof their numbers for the purpose of making prank calls, which can be disruptive and annoying.
- Phishing: Scammers can spoof numbers to mimic legitimate entities, such as banks or tech support, to trick individuals into divulging personal information or sending money.
It's important to be cautious when receiving calls from unfamiliar numbers and to not trust the caller ID alone. If you suspect a call is spoofed or feel uncomfortable with the call's intent, it's advisable to hang up and independently verify the caller's legitimacy, especially before sharing any personal or financial information.