Caller ID spoofing

Caller ID spoofing is faking the number or name on your screen, so a scam call looks like it comes from a bank, police or someone you know.

Caller ID spoofing: Caller ID spoofing means the caller makes the displayed number or name appear different from the real one. A scammer can make a call seem to come from a bank, a government office, a local number or even your own number, so the screen cannot prove who is calling.

In India, people receive calls that appear to come from a bank's customer care, a police station or a number very like their own. Internet calling makes it easy to set any number. The same trick works on SMS, where the sender name may be copied so that a fake message sits in the same thread as real alerts. Do not argue with the caller.

Never treat the screen as proof. If a caller asks for anything about money, OTPs or identity, end the call and contact the organisation yourself through its official app or the number printed on your card. You can report suspicious calls and messages on the Sanchar Saathi portal using the Chakshu facility. Real organisations will not mind a call-back, so do not feel rude about ending a doubtful call.

Tips

• Do not trust the name or number on the screen; hang up and call back on the number on your card.
• Report suspicious calls and messages to the Sanchar Saathi portal through Chakshu.
• Warn older family members that a familiar number can still be fake.

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