How often do we get and answer calls from telephone numbers of people who we think we know, only to discover it’s a telemarketer or scammer? Below are some prevention tips that may help.
- NEVER pick up a call on the first ring until you confirm the Caller ID is legitimate.
- IF the Caller ID is not in your address book and you don’t recognize the number, let it go to voice mail.
- IF the Caller ID is in your address book under someone’s name but it doesn’t appear on your phone, chances are the Caller ID that’s listed has been spoofed.
- IF you do pick up a call by mistake, hang up immediately. Even if you don’t fall for the scam, scammers can still sell your telephone number
and whatever information they had gotten from your conversation with the scammer. - Use the default phone greeting rather than your own. This will mask your gender and age.
- Routinely update your address book with the current numbers of family members, friends, services and other important contacts.
- Use GOOGLE to determine if the Caller ID is legitimate. Also include the word “scam” to see if the Caller ID had been linked to scams.
THE DEPARTMENT OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
1060 Richards St., Honolulu, HI 96813
808-768-7400 | Office hrs: Mon – Fri, 7:45 am – 4:30 pm
www.honoluluprosecutor.org/contact-us/
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