A caller ID is “spoofed” when the person placing the call has altered the number they are calling from to show inaccurately on a caller ID display. This practice is typically used by telemarketers and scammers to trick the receiving party into answering their call in hopes of making a sale or obtaining valuable, personal data. Caller ID Spoofing is illegal, but unfortunately, cannot be stopped by Norvado or other telephone providers; the person making the call is in full control.
There are some things you can do to prevent and defend against Caller ID Spoofing.
Register all of your phone numbers with the National Do Not Call Registry. The National Do Not Call Registry, which is managed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), allows you to enter your phone number(s) to block unwanted sales calls. You only need to register your phone number once and it will remain on there until it is disconnected and reassigned. This blocks sales calls from legitimate companies; it does not block charitable donations or political message type calls. If someone calls you after that, there is a way to report illegal and unwanted calls on this same site and the FTC is very active in pursuing these calls.
Don’t recognize the name or number that is calling you? Simply let it go to voicemail. If the person and call is legit and/or important, they will leave you a message. Want to answer it anyway? Then just make sure you are very cautious about what you say.
If you have already fallen victim to this practice, the best thing for you to do is report your experience to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Their website offers other useful information as well about this often malicious practice.
Caller ID spoofing happens often, so be proactive. Utilize these recommendations and you will see a decrease in annoying calls and an increase in your happiness.