Call Forwarding Scam [Detailed Explanation and Preventions]

Modern technology allows fraudsters to pull off astounding feats, such as impersonating a trustworthy financial institution. It means the call, email, or text message that appears to be from your bank may actually be from a scammer. Spoofing is the term used to describe it. Furthermore, fraudsters have come up with a new luring technique which is known as call forwarding scams.

After earning people’s trust, fraudsters attempt their call forwarding scam. To gain your information such as passwords, bank details, and your all sensitive information so that they can get access to your bank accounts. 

This blog contains all the information related to this latest scam.

What is a Call Forwarding Scam?

Nowadays, scammers are taking advantage of call-forwarding features, which allow calls to be transferred and forwarded even if the phone is busy, turned off, or beyond the network’s service area. 

They call victims while posing as customer service representatives or representatives of any bank or service provider, enticing them to call numbers like **21*07829700191# before the calls transfer to the cell phones of the fraudsters.

Once the call is routed, fraudsters use the victim’s account to click “forgot password” and request an OTP to enter the account. Because the call was diverted, the fraudster was able to access the OTP and the intended fraud was carried out. 

Ways of Conning People in Call Forwarding Scam

 There are several ways that scammers use to lure you into their trap. After reading it carefully you might understand how scammers accomplish this call forwarding scams. 

1. Fraudsters send an email or text message with an unknown URL and prompt act quickly. If the victim clicks on a given URL malware installs in the victim’s device. With this malicious actors get access to the victim’s information. So remember not to click on any link. If you have any potential issues, directly connect to your bank or go to your bank’s official website to get the phone number of customer support.
2. Fraudsters request the victim for their username and password for online banking by claiming that the situation is urgent and they need to check things right away.
3. Sometimes fraudsters even ask for your phone by giving some reason that the phone’s battery is dead or some other reason so that the victim gives his/her phone to the fraudster for a phone call. But fraudsters take advantage of this as well by dialing some sequence of digits on the victim’s phone so that the victim’s calls start forwarding to the scammer’s phone. All OTPs come to the victim’s phone by calling.                                                                                                                                                                                 

How to Avoid Call Forwarding Fraud?

Keeping yourself safe from this scam is not difficult. If you follow some simple steps in your daily life you can avoid it easily 

• Keep your phone and credentials secure.

• Never share your username and password for internet banking with anybody unless you want to allow them to make transfers from your accounts.
• Don’t follow directions from an unknown person who approaches you regarding issues with your bank account, such as entering/dialing any numbers or making any changes to your phone.

• Directly call your bank

• Give your contacts a quick update to include the best phone number for your bank. Hence, you will be aware of exactly who to contact if you suspect fraud.

• Use safe and strong passwords:

• Your password should be lengthy and memorable.
• Don’t provide any information that might be used to identify you. Scammers undertake their research and frequently search social media accounts for significant names, dates, and identifying signs.
• Your password is hard to guess.
• On different websites, avoid using the same password. With passwords for bank accounts like Regions, this is especially crucial.
• Ensure that nobody else can see or access your password.
• Be sure to regularly update your passwords. Both a password manager and a calendar reminder may be used to help you remember and save your passwords.
• If you got notification of a possible data breach, change your password right away.

1. Whenever someone asks for your phone for making a call you make sure that you only dial the number on the phone.
2. If someone has your phone then keep your eyes on every activity of that person. 

If You Become a Victim of Call Forwarding Scam What You Have to Do?

Now you might be wondering what you have to do if you fall prey victim to this latest scam. So there are some instructions you can follow if you become a victim of it.

1. File a complaint on the government’s official website cybercrime.gov.in which is the national cybercrime reporting portal.
2. Or either call 1930 its government’s official helpline number.
3. You can also file a complaint by going to your nearest cyber crime police station.
4. And if you are looking for any professional help related to cybercrime then you can take assistance from India’s trustable cyber expert Anuraag Singh.

Conclusion 

Call forwarding is one of the cool features that make utilizing your phones and handling your calls easier. You may use it to forward calls to your home phone whenever you travel, to stay focused when working or on vacation, or just whenever you like. But call forwarding scams are the latest scam for scammers to defraud people. Follow all the instructions mentioned above in this article so that you don’t become the next victim of this scam.