6 signs you’ve been scammed over the phone

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Concerned about phone scams? EE, part of the BT Group, has launched a new subscription service to help protect mobile phone users from falling prey to scammers and nuisance calls.

Called Scam Guard, it promises to use AI to spot likely spam calls and alert users to them, and is being made available to pay-monthly customers, starting from £1 a month.

Across the UK, 40% of crime committed was fraud-based, according to government research published earlier this year, and 96% of mobile phone users have received regular nuisance calls.

So, what are the signs that you’ve been contacted by a phone scammer? And what should you do next?

1. Unsolicited contact

Bogdan Botezatu, director of threat research and reporting at Bitdefender, says the first sign you are probably being scammed is unsolicited contact from an entity you may or may not be working with – such as the bank, cable provider, insurance company or investment firm.

“When they reach out, scammers might demonstrate significant knowledge about you, but they would also like to validate that they are talking to the right person by inquiring about personal, confidential information such as credit card number, bank account details, social security number or account usernames or passwords,” says Botezatu.

“This information should never be handed over to third parties, especially to people over the phone,” he warns.

2. Unfamiliar numbers

Similarly, if the call comes from a number you don’t recognise, or a withheld/unknown number is shown, be extra cautious.

“If you receive a call from a number you don’t recognise, especially one that appears to be from a different country or a suspicious area code, it could be a scam,” says Rob Cottrill, technology director at ANS.

3. Urgent requests for money or information

Cottrill also says scammers often create a sense of urgency, asking for immediate payment or sensitive personal information.

“For instance, they might use AI to mimic the distressed voice of a loved one, claiming they are in trouble and need money urgently. They may also start the call with a question designed for you to say ‘yes’, which could be recorded and used as proof of authorising a transaction,” adds Cottrill.

Botezatu agrees, saying this is why phone scams tend to be more effective than those run over email and text/messaging.