How to spot a fake voice phone scam
You do not have to prove a voice is fake before you pause an urgent money request.
A familiar voice can be copied. Caller ID can be faked, too. You may not hear a clear sign that a call is false.
The useful question is whether the request is real. For example, a voice asks you to send cash to a new account. Check with the person through a contact you already had.
- Do not send money or read out codes during the unexpected call. End it so you can check.
- Call the person's saved number. Do not redial the incoming call or use a new number they gave you.
- If they do not answer, contact another person who knows them. A missed call does not prove the story either way.
- Treat a family code word as one extra check. It can be leaked or forgotten.
- If money was already sent, call the firm used to pay. Ask about stopping or reversing it.
Help me practice this sentence: 'I will call you on the number I already have.' Then list two ways to check a family money request. Do not tell me that a familiar voice proves who called.
Paste the message into ChatGPT, then fill in any blanks before you send it. ChatGPT opens in a new tab. Opening it does not send the message.
You can end a call kindly. Checking first is a way to care for the person.
Sources and more help
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