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    • What is identity theft? Here’s how to protect yourself from these scams
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    What is identity theft? Here’s how to protect yourself from these scams

    Umito Posted on

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    Across the United States, Black Americans received racist text messages Wednesday and Thursday informing them that they had been selected to be enslaved and sent to work on a cotton plantation. The Columbus Dispatch previously reported.

    The phone numbers sending these text messages may not be what they appear; Clemson University in South Carolina released a statement Wednesday claiming that the phone numbers sending the text messages are associated with “online identity theft sites.”

    If you’re unfamiliar with identity theft, here’s what it is, what you need to know about it, and how to analyze it.

    What is identity theft?

    Identity theft occurs when a caller or texter deliberately fakes their caller ID display to hide their identity, according to the FCC. For example, impersonators can impersonate government agencies and businesses in an attempt to steal people’s personal information.

    Robo callers often use “neighbor spoofing,” which is when they change their caller ID to display an area code similar to that of the person they are contacting, according to the FCC.

    How to Avoid Identity Theft Scams

    Since spoofed calls and text messages may appear to come from an official source, they can be difficult to detect. Here’s what the FCC recommends to avoid falling for an identity theft scam.

    • Do not answer calls from unknown numbers. If you answer a question, hang up immediately.
    • If you answer the phone and the caller – or a recording – asks you to press a button to stop receiving calls, simply hang up. Scammers often use this trick to identify potential targets.
    • Do not answer any questions, especially those that can be answered “yes” or “no”.
    • Do not disclose personal information in response to unexpected calls or if you are suspicious.
    • If you receive a call from what appears to be a government agency, business, or other official source, hang up and dial the number you can find on the group’s website, in the telephone directory, or in any official document that you received. make sure the call is legitimate. You will usually receive a written statement in the mail before receiving a phone call from a legitimate source, particularly if the caller is requesting payment.
    • Be careful if you are pressured for information immediately.
    • If you have a voicemail account with your phone service, be sure to set a password for it. Hackers could spoof your phone number and access your voicemail if you don’t have a password.
    • Talk to your phone company about call blocking tools and look for apps you can download to your mobile device.

    Can you prevent your number from being spoofed?

    Identity theft can happen to anyone and there is no surefire way to prevent it. But there are some things that make numbers more susceptible to spoofing, according to Aura, a digital security application.

    They are:

    • Your phone number has been the subject of a data breach
    • You have already answered a scam call
    • You added your number to a public website or social media profile
    • You have given consent to a company or service to sell your personal data

    If you discover your number is spoofed, it may be because data brokers and scam groups are selling your phone number, according to Aura.

    What to do if your number is stolen

    If you receive many calls or text messages from unknown numbers stating that your number has contacted them, your number may have been spoofed.

    The FCC recommends not answering any calls from unknown numbers. If you do, explain to the caller that your number is spoofed and that you did not make any calls. You can also set up a new voice message telling callers that your number is being spoofed.

    Scammers exchange phone numbers frequently, so your number can’t be spoofed for long, according to the FCC. Also be sure to contact the FCC if your number is used for identity theft.

    Is identity theft illegal?

    The Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009 made it illegal to spoof identity “with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or falsely obtain something of value,” according to the FCC. Spoofers could face fines of up to $10,000 for each violation.

    There are, however, legal uses for identity theft. The FCC uses the example of a doctor calling a patient on their home phone but displaying their work phone number instead. Companies also often use identity theft to display a toll-free call-back number.

    Can you find spoofed numbers?

    Spoofed numbers, by their nature, are difficult to trace. If you look up the number online, it may refer to a real person’s phone number used by impersonators.

    Law enforcement and phone companies have the best tools for tracking down spoofed numbers, according to Nortona security software company.

    [email protected]

    @NathanRHart

    Umito
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