5 Ways to Avoid Phone Scams

Many people are scammed through calls and texts each year. In 2021, phone scams cost Americans over $30 billion. That’s a lot of money! And it’s not just the elderly who are scammed; phone scams can happen to anyone. Last year alone, more than 2.8 million people reported phone fraud, and 1 in 4 of those people lost money. The average loss amount for each individual was around $1200. Each year, an additional 9 million people fall victim to identity theft, many of whom shared personal information with phone and text scammers.

The good news is that you don’t need to be one of these statistics! The Nowell Agency shares the best ways to protect yourself, such as being aware of the risks, taking proper precautions, and getting the right personal insurance coverage in place so that you’re protected against any such event. 

How to Identify Phone Scams 

The first step to protecting yourself is to be able to identify a phone scammer. Some of the red flags you should pay attention to are glaring signs that the person on the other end of a call or text is a scammer. Most scammers will pretend to be from an organization that is well-known or familiar to you. They’ll often say that there’s a problem that you need to rectify or a prize that you need to claim. If they pressure you to act immediately and provide a very specific payment or claim method, then you can bet they’re a phone scammer. Trust your instincts! If the call, claim, or request seems odd, it probably is!

Some of the most common phone scams are people who claim to work for the IRS or other government agencies. They hope to strike fear into people, causing them to respond and act immediately. Calls that offer products or services that seem too good to be true commonly are! Any calls you receive for free product trials, low travel prices, pre-approved loans, or calls that are supposedly from big companies are likely to be scams. Also, be aware of unsolicited charity or non-profit organization calls or texts asking for financial support – many of these are not real. 

How to Protect Yourself from Telephone Scams & Text Scams

To avoid falling prey to phone and text scams, there are some tips you can follow to protect your hard-earned money. 

1. Block unsolicited calls and texts through your phone company or mobile apps and register your number on the Do Not Call Registry. You could also get an app that automatically sorts out spam and scam calls.  
2. If an unknown number shows up, don’t answer the call. Also, don’t call the number back, as they could be international numbers with high-priced fees.
3. Report unknown or scam texts and delete the text. Don’t click on any links sent through text.
4. Avoid acting on high-pressure texts or calls that require you to act immediately. Real companies will give you time to respond.
5. Do not provide any financial or personal information to an entity you don’t know or with whom you wouldn’t expect to share such information. Any real company or government entity will let you know about any transactions that will require you to share such information beforehand.

Many people wonder how to get a scammer in trouble. Great question! If you believe you are being scammed, hang up immediately and report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission. 

Best Insurance for Scam Protection

Protecting yourself from phone scams starts with being vigilant and paying attention to the warning signs of scam calls. Stay up-to-date on the latest phone scams and follow the aforementioned tips for avoiding such scams and you should be able to steer clear of any risky phone calls or texts. Another way to protect yourself from phone scams is to get identity theft insurance. This type of insurance can help cover the cost of repairing your credit, restoring your identity, and repayment for other financial damages if you do fall victim to a scam. Insurance for identity theft is well worth it if it gives you peace of mind and protection against loss. Call Nowell Agency today and we can find affordable identity theft insurance that fits your exact needs!