Battling spam calls with cybersecurity

HANGING up on a spam call might seem insignificant, but it can be a major win for scammers. Not answering a spam call and blocking the call in your phone is even better.

Answering a spam call instantly alerts a cybercriminal that your number is active, thereby leading to an elevated attack against you.

These targeted spam calls utilize various tactics to trick you into divulging personal information, enabling cybercriminals to steal your money, identity and even voice. Earlier this year, two victims in Singapore lost SG$73,000 to fraudsters posing as officers from the nation’s Anti-Scam Centre through spam calls, highlighting the lengths scammers will go to deceive and harm their victims.

In today’s cyberthreat landscape, it is paramount that we understand how cybercriminals can exploit us through spam calls and how to stay protected against them.

In a nutshell

Spam calls originate from unidentified sources and are unwelcome calls made to a wide audience.

While many of these calls come from businesses trying to sell something, some fall under the category of scam calls. Scam calls are unsolicited and falsely claimed to be from individuals or organizations they are not.

These scams often involve convincing people of fabricated scenarios, facilitated either by a live person or a pre-recorded message known as a robocall. Call spoofing techniques are commonly used to conceal the caller’s true identity, making it appear as though the call is originating from a different person or place.

Red flags

Incoming calls can sometimes be ambiguous — appearing to be from legitimate organizations but also potentially originating from scammers. Despite the ambiguity, several red flags indicate that a call is likely spam.

While legitimate entities like health care providers and charities may use pre-recorded messages in their calls, cybercriminals also utilize this method to make thousands of spam calls to a wide range of recipients. If you receive a pre-recorded message from an unsolicited phone call, it’s highly probable that it is a spam call, and you should disconnect immediately.

Some smartphones come equipped with built-in features that automatically detect and identify spam calls. Modern devices display a warning message such as “spam/scam likely” for incoming calls from unknown numbers, aiding in the identification of spam calls and advising against answering them. In Singapore, telecom providers have implemented a system where incoming international calls are prefixed with a “+” sign, helping residents better identify potential scam calls.

A common tactic of spam calls is to impersonate trusted entities such as government agencies, banks or health care providers, aiming to trick you into revealing personal information. This should raise a red flag, as legitimate organizations typically do not request sensitive information over the phone, especially if they already have it on file.

Additionally, spam callers often create a sense of urgency to pressure you into providing personal details without allowing you time to think clearly. If you are pressured to disclose personal information during an unexpected call, it is likely a scam.

Staying protected

Cybercriminals constantly leverage new technologies to scam and steal personal information. Although it is nearly impossible to completely stop receiving spam calls, there are steps you can take to stay protected.

First and foremost, avoid answering unsolicited phone calls. Ignoring these calls can significantly reduce the number of spam calls that you receive, as scammers will assume your number is inactive. If the call is from a legitimate entity, they will likely follow up with a call, text or email to verify their identity.

Using a credible third-party spam-filtering app can also help protect you against spam calls. These apps detect and block most incoming spam callers by utilizing a database of known and reported spam numbers. Some apps continuously update their databases to identify and block new spam numbers.

While these apps, like spam-blocking from phone service providers, won’t completely stop spam calls, they can help you avoid falling for scams.

If you accidentally answer a spam call, do not respond to the caller and hang up immediately. To prevent further incoming calls from that number, block the spam number on your phone, and report it to the authorities. In Singapore, you can report a scam via the ScamShield portal or via the ScamShield App.

Registering for the Do Not Call Registry is another way to protect yourself against spam calls. This free service prevents you from receiving telemarketing messages via phone call or text, and registration does not expire. With telemarketers blocked, you can be confident that any unsolicited call is likely from a scammer and can safely ignore it.

Avoid falling victim

While cybercriminals cannot steal your information just by answering a spam call, it is still wise to avoid picking up to prevent becoming a frequent target and increasing the risk of falling for their scams. As a rule of thumb, never share personal information over the phone unless you initiate the call to a trusted source, such as a hospital or educational institution.

The rise in spam calls poses a significant threat to our personal security. By being cautious and adopting safe practices — such as avoiding unknown calls, never sharing personal information unless you initiated the call, and blocking known spam numbers — we can protect ourselves from these scams.

Staying vigilant and informed is crucial to safeguard both yourself and your loved ones from potential cybercriminal activities.

Darren Guccione is the chief executive and co-founder of Keeper Security, a provider of cybersecurity software which protects passwords, secrets and connections to infrastructure.