GUEST ESSAY: Lessons to be learned from the waves of BofA phone number spoofing scams – Source: www.lastwatchdog.com

By Richard Grant

Phone number spoofing involves manipulating caller ID displays to mimic legitimate phone numbers, giving scammers a deceptive veil of authenticity.

Related: The rise of ‘SMS toll fraud’

The Bank of America scam serves as a prime example of how criminals exploit this technique. These scammers impersonate Bank of America representatives, using the genuine bank’s phone number (+18004321000) to gain trust and deceive their targets.

Victims of the Bank of America scam have shared their experiences, shedding light on the deceptive tactics employed by these fraudsters. One common approach involves a caller with an Indian accent posing as a Bank of America representative. They may claim that a new credit card or checking account has been opened in the victim’s name, providing specific details such as addresses and alleged deposits to sound convincing.

Scam tactic exposed

Nicolas Girard shared his experience with the Bank of America scam. He received a call claiming a new checking account was opened in his name, complete with his correct address and a $5,000 deposit. To verify their authenticity, Nicolas asked for proof, but the scammers insisted he Google the Bank of America number.

Suspicious, he trusted his instincts and called the bank directly. Genuine representatives confirmed it was a scam, with no new accounts linked to his social security number. Research unveiled the widespread practice of spoofing the Bank of America number.

Nicolas took immediate action, freezing his credit accounts to protect himself. His story serves as a reminder to stay vigilant against phone scams, ensuring our financial well-being and personal security.

Scope of the threat

Grant

Based on monthly search requests and statistics from 2023, it is evident that a significant number of individuals, almost 600 views per month with an estimate of over 6,000 searches in 2023 alone, have encountered the spoofed Bank of America phone number, +18004321000. This statistic alone highlights the alarming and widespread nature of this scam. It serves as a stark reminder of the importance of raising awareness about phone number spoofing and its potential risks.

It is crucial to be aware of the red flags associated with phone scams like the Bank of America scam. Victims have reported several warning signs, such as unsolicited calls, requests for sensitive information, and high-pressure tactics. Recognizing these indicators can help individuals protect themselves from falling victim to such scams.

To combat phone harassment and protect against scams like the Bank of America scam, the tellows caller ID app offers valuable features. This app provides reverse phone number lookup, allowing users to identify potential scammers or suspicious callers. With a vast database of reported numbers and user feedback, the app provides essential information to help individuals make informed decisions about answering or blocking calls.

Practical protection

To safeguard yourself from falling victim to phone number spoofing scams, consider the following preventive measures:

•Verify Caller Authenticity: Independently contact your bank using official contact information to verify the legitimacy of any calls claiming to be from financial institutions.

•Be Wary of Sharing Personal Information: Never share sensitive information, such as account numbers or Social Security numbers, over the phone unless you initiated the call and are confident in the caller’s identity.

•Install tellows Caller ID App: Use the tellows caller ID app to identify potential scam calls and protect yourself from phone harassment. The app’s reverse phone number lookup feature provides insights into caller reputation and user-reported experiences.

By using the tellows app, users can identify and block unwanted and potentially scam calls. With its extensive global database and user-generated ratings, tellows provides insights into caller identities and their reputation. This empowers users to make informed decisions about answering or blocking calls, saving them time and frustration.

Phone number spoofing poses a growing threat. Stay vigilant and informed to protect against such fraud.

About the essayist: Richard Grant is a country content manager at tellows. He is responsible for overseeing the content strategy, user-generated ratings and data management for a specific country. Richard’s expertise in call identification and spam detection contributes to tellows’ mission of empowering individuals to avoid annoying and potentially fraudulent calls.

August 21st, 2023 | Guest Blog Post | Privacy | Steps forward | Top Stories