How to Spot a Phone Scam

8 common scams and how to protect yourself

Andy Markowitz and Deirdre van Dyk

Updated April 22, 2025

Reviewed by

Kathy Stokes, director of fraud prevention, AARP Fraud Watch Network

Comments

En español

Published January 18, 2019

/ Updated April 22, 2025

a hand holding a smart phone rejects a call from an unknown number

Getty Images

In this story

Phony calls • Types of scams • Red flags • Protect yourself • Get help

We may be in the digital age, but the telephone remains a key weapon in scammers’ arsenals. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) found that contact by phone call was the second most common way scammers reached out to victims in 2024, after email. But losses from scams that began over the phone were almost double those of scams started over email.Once they get you on the phone, scammers use false promises, aggressive sales pitches or phony threats to take your money or pry loose information they can use to steal your identity (or both).

More than 2 million people registered complaints with the FTC’s National Do Not Call Registry in 2024. Medical and prescription scam calls were the most common complaint, followed by impostor scams and bogus promises to reduce debt, according to the FTC.

Technology has made this illicit work easy. With auto-dialers, shady operators can blast out robocalls by the millions. Readily available spoofing tools can trick your caller ID into displaying a genuine government or corporate number or one that appears to be local to increase the chances that you’ll answer.

8 common phone scams

Whether live or automated, scam callers often pose as representatives of the government, companies, or even your own family. Here are some common scams that may start with a phone call:

A government agent has an urgent issue. They might say you owe back taxes, there's a problem with your Social Security account or Medicare card. Whatever the problem, they’ll say it can be resolved if you provide personal information or make an immediate payment.
They can help you with your debt. They’ll claim they can help you resolve student loans, fix your credit, or help you qualify for a government grant.
There’s a problem with your account. They may say you have strange charges on your Amazon account or a problem with your bank account and ask you to provide sensitive information. They might escalate the scam, saying you're suspected of criminal activity. Then, they connect you with someone claiming to be an FBI agent who wants to help you move your money for “safekeeping.”
You’ve won big. They claim you won a cruise or hit the jackpot in a lottery or sweepstakes. You just need to pay taxes on those winnings or pay Publishers Clearing House a fee before collecting your cash.
Donate to this worthy cause. They may pose as a legitimate charity or use a name for their bogus charity that sounds legitimate. They might claim to be with a veteran’s charity and ask if you support the troops making off with the money you wanted used to help others.
Your children or grandchildren are in trouble. Scammers will pose as a family member who has been in an accident or is under arrest and needs money fast.
Your car warranty has expired. These calls play on your fear that without that manufacturer’s warranty, you might pay thousands of dollars to fix issues down the road.
You missed jury duty. An arrest warrant has been issued for you as you failed to show up for your civic duty. You’ll need to pay a fee to avoid jail time.

Warning signs of a phone scam

Unsolicited calls from people claiming to work for a government agency, public utility or major tech firm, like Microsoft or Apple. These companies and institutions will rarely call you unless they have first communicated by other means or you have contacted them.

Suspicious timing. Charity scams are active after disasters and during the holidays.

Financial deals or financial gain. Pitching free product trials, cash prizes, cheap travel packages, free cruises, free medical devices, pre-approved loans, debt reduction, and low-risk, high-return investments that all turn out to be fake.

Automated sales call from a company you have not authorized to contact you. That’s an illegal robocall and almost certainly a scam. (Automated calls are permitted for some informational or non-commercial purposes — for example, from political campaigns or nonprofit groups like AARP.)

How to protect yourself from this scam

Register for Do Not Call. Add your phone number to the FTC’s National Do Not Call Registry. It won’t stop scam calls but will make them easier to spot because most legitimate telemarketers won’t call you if you’re on the registry or if they don't have an existing relationship with you.

Use technology. Consider using call-blocking mobile apps to screen your calls and weed out spam and scams. You can also ask your phone service provider if it offers any blocking tools.

Don't answer calls from unknown numbers. If it’s important, they’ll leave a message.

Verify callers and information. Independently research travel deals, charities, or business and investment opportunities you hear about by phone. If you are suspicious about an unexpected call that appears to be from an entity you do business with, verify that they are trying to reach you. Log in to your account online or via the app, or call a number from an existing statement to see if there is an issue.

Join Our Fight Against Fraud

Be suspicious of one-ring calls from unknown numbers. These may be scams to get you to call hotlines in African and Caribbean countries with U.S.-style three-digit area codes, and you could incur hefty connection and per-minute fees.

Keep personal and financial data private, such as your Social Security number or financial account numbers, from callers you don’t know. They can use that information for identity fraud.

What to do if you've been a victim of a phone scam

Call your bank. If your money has been stolen, first report it to your bank. If your money was stolen through the purchase of gift cards, report the theft to the company that issued the gift cards.

Report it to local law enforcement. Even if the police say they say they cannot take action, file a report and keep a copy so you have proof of the event.

For support and guidance, the trained fraud specialists at the free AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline, 877 -908-3360, can share information on what to do next and how to avoid future scams. The AARP Fraud Watch Network also offers online group support sessions.

This story, first published in 2019, has been updated with new statistics and additional advice from AARP Fraud Watch Center experts.

%{postComment}%

Andy Markowitz covers Social Security and retirement for AARP. He is a former editor of the Prague Post and Baltimore City Paper.

Deirdre van Dyk is an AARP associate editor covering Social Security, caregiving, technology and fraud. She previously worked at USA Today and Time, where she covered business, government, sustainability and innovation.

Unlock Access to AARP Members Edition

Join AARP to Continue

Already a Member? Login