NOTICE FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL LESLIE RUTLEDGE ON CALLER ID SPOOFING that we would like to share:
Caller ID spoofing is the practice of causing the telephone network to display a number on the recipient’s Caller ID display which is not that of the actual originating station. The term is commonly used to describe situations in which the motivation is considered malicious by the speaker. Just as email spoofing can make it appear that a message came from any e-mail address the sender chooses, Caller ID spoofing can make a call appear to have come from any phone number the caller wishes.
In November 2017, the Arkansas Attorney General’s office issued a news release about the Federal Communications Commission adopting rules that would allow telephone providers to block illegal robocalls that use Caller ID spoofing technology. A copy of the release is available online at ArkansasAG.gov/media-center/news-releases.
While there is currently no way to block your phone from Caller ID spoofing, here are some common tips to remember when you receive a telephone call:
• Be cautious. Anyone you do business with already has the information they need on you. They will not call and ask you your social security number or to verify your account number.
• If you receive a call from your bank, credit card company, etc., write down the number on the caller ID, hang up and redial their number.
• Don’t assume it is who you think it is, even if the Caller ID indicates it is a relative, your children’s school or the local police department. You may wish to exercise some caution. For instance, you could hang up and call the number back.
If these calls are on your cellphone, you could also try blocking the phone number. Your service provider should include instructions on how to block a number if you are unfamiliar. If these calls are on your landline, contact your service provider for instructions on how to block a number.