I’m a cybersecurity expert – these are the phone calls you should NEVER answer

Fraudulent phone calls are an all-too-common tactic used by fraudsters to trick unsuspecting victims into giving up their personal information.

But the good news is that there is an easy way to avoid falling victim to rogue cold calling, as some area codes are more likely to be linked to scams than others.

Scammers previously used a 900 number to target people, as the code is usually associated with trusted entertainment or information services such as television and broadband providers.

But cybersecurity expert Joseph Steinberg warns there are now nearly 20 other area codes to be wary of.

“Criminals have been known to use caller IDs with area code 473, for example, which appears to be national, but is actually the area code for the island of Grenada,” he said. . Reader’s Digest.

70 million Americans are said to have lost money to phone scams last year – with a total loss of nearly $40 billion

You should also be extremely vigilant if the area code 809 – which also originates from the Caribbean – appears on your screen.

Many of these scam phone numbers are particularly dangerous because they have a +1 country code, so victims think they are getting a domestic call, but are actually from US territories.

For example, Steinberg says to look for calls from area code 242, which comes from the Bahamas, 876, which comes from Jamaica, and 809, 829 and 849 – from the Dominican Republic.

According to Truecaller, which has an app that blocks fraudulent calls, nearly 70 million Americans lost money to phone scams last year – with a total loss of almost $40 billion.

If you accidentally answer a call from one of these area codes, you could also be charged to take a call from a foreign country.

Steinberg says the best way to avoid being scammed or incurring additional charges is to never answer or return a call from a number you don’t recognize.

“Remember that it’s unlikely that someone you don’t know – who is in distress in a place you don’t know – will dial a random number in another country and ask you to help them. “, did he declare. Reader’s Digest. “They would call the police.”

But if you are charged for intercepting a fraudulent call, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recommends contacting your telephone company and requesting that the incorrect charges be removed.

It’s important to remember that scammers can also create fake phone numbers through a process called “spoofing.”

This clever technology allows scammers to replicate the numbers of many area codes to impersonate your bank, telecommunications provider, or government agency such as the tax office.

Cybersecurity expert Joseph Steinberg warns there are now nearly 20 area codes to watch out for if you get an unexpected phone call

Warning sign: Experts warn never to answer calls from a number you don’t recognize

Remember that your bank will never cold call you asking for your personal information over the phone. If this happens, it’s probably a scam and you should hang up immediately.

The warning comes amid a terrifying rise in prank callers with increasingly extreme tactics.

Last month, an Arizona mother received a call from an unknown number with what sounded like her daughter screaming in the background, and a “kidnapper” demanding $1 million in ransom.

In reality, her daughter was safe on a ski trip and her voice had been cloned by AI technology.

Earlier this year, a Pennsylvania woman also issued a stern warning after she was tricked into sending $500 to a hoax claiming to have kidnapped her sister.

Beth Royce said she was woken up by a phone call that appeared to come from her sister, but it was an impostor scam.

She detailed her “terrifying” experience on social media in a bid to prevent the same from happening to others.