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There is one simple and proven way to authenticate phone scams. You tell them that you will call the company back on the number you already know or have from a

There is one simple and proven way to authenticate phone scams. You tell them that you will call the company back on the number you already know or have from a bill, or you will pay via the website that you also already know. Until they start commandeering phone numbers or domains you're pretty safe. There is really no reason to answer your phone for numbers you don't know unless you're job hunting or waiting for an important call. I block all numbers not in my contact list. Sure, they can masquerade as a fake number, but even if my caller ID says it's the gas company I'm not going to answer it and if I do I am not giving them any information on that call.

pixl97 4y ago
I mean, you're still someone at risk here if someone mails you a nice looking electric bill a few days before with fake info on it, especially in the case the scammer has enough info on you to make it look realistic.
- throwaway675309 4y ago
  Uh nooo.... You don't call the number that's provided in the format of the outreach - be that a physical piece of mail or an email or an SMS message. In every case where I've gotten a message / phone call informing me that I need to provide some sensitive information or make a transaction, I determine the organization that they are purportedly representing, navigate to the official website, find the relevant contact info, and call back. I always assumed everybody did this to prevent these exact types of situations.
  - dexterdog 4y ago
    Exactly. I have zero concern for my own security when it comes to scams because I know how they work and I hear about all of the latest ones because I am curious about the advances in scamology. I am concerned about my family who are fooled by these things. I'm a cynic by nature so the alerts are firing on communications with uncertified connections. I can't get trusting people to understand that there are people who care primarily about taking advantage of that trust.

pixl97 4y ago

I mean, you're still someone at risk here if someone mails you a nice looking electric bill a few days before with fake info on it, especially in the case the scammer has enough info on you to make it look realistic.

throwaway675309 4y ago
Uh nooo.... You don't call the number that's provided in the format of the outreach - be that a physical piece of mail or an email or an SMS message. In every case where I've gotten a message / phone call informing me that I need to provide some sensitive information or make a transaction, I determine the organization that they are purportedly representing, navigate to the official website, find the relevant contact info, and call back. I always assumed everybody did this to prevent these exact types of situations.
- dexterdog 4y ago
  Exactly. I have zero concern for my own security when it comes to scams because I know how they work and I hear about all of the latest ones because I am curious about the advances in scamology. I am concerned about my family who are fooled by these things. I'm a cynic by nature so the alerts are firing on communications with uncertified connections. I can't get trusting people to understand that there are people who care primarily about taking advantage of that trust.