Over the phone
Scammers call and SMS too.Phone calls are made by scammers to homes and businesses in a
wide variety of scams, from threatening tax scams to offers of prizes
or ‘help’ with computer viruses. The availability of cheap Voice Over
Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephone calls means call centres can
operate offshore with telephone numbers that look like they’re local
numbers. Telephone caller identification can easily be disguised and
is one of the many tricks scammers use to make you believe they are
someone else.
SMS text messages are used by scammers to send a whole range
of scams including competition or prize scams. If you respond, you
may be charged at premium rates or find yourself signed up to a
subscription service. It is safer not to respond or click on links in
text messages unless you know who they came from. They can also
contain attachments or links to malicious software in the guise of
photos, songs, games or apps.