Spoofing: How scammers use caller ID to rip you off : News : ConnectMidMissouri.com

Spoofing: How scammers use caller ID to rip you off

Posted: 11.01.2011 at 10:00 PM

Updated: 11.02.2011 at 1:25 PM

Spoofing is becoming more common among scammers. Officials say it is hard to stop because the practice is legal.

In this high-tech world we live in thieves are looking to cash in, and take advantage of you more than ever.

One of the latest techniques is called “caller ID spoofing”.

It's where a thief fools your caller ID into showing another number.

Missouri Department of Insurance spokesman Travis Ford said, "Don't look at a caller ID and say that's the number of my bank".

Unsuspecting consumers will often look at their caller ID and think it's their credit card or bank calling, the scam artists will play on those assumptions and steal personal information.

"People are often surprised to find out that someone can buy a little piece of computer software for $10 or $30 and it can make their number appear however they want on your caller I.D when they call." Ford said.

Spoofing is perfectly legal and getting more common. Many argue that there are legitimate uses for tricking someone's caller ID.

Police departments and doctors offices use spoofing all the time so private numbers can't be traced.

But, the bad guys can even trick automated voicemail systems into playing your messages.

The best way to prevent it is to have a password on your voicemail.

With an inexpensive computer program, or a quick visit to a website, you can be anyone you want to be within minutes. You can even pay web sites to do the caller ID spoofing for you.

The sites say they are protecting your identity, but thieves can use them too.

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