How many scam/spam calls and emails do you receive?

My daily average has been 15-20 with upticks during Medicare Open Enrollment (not quite ready for that) and many offers to free benefits. I expect a lot of you are getting lots of scammer calls, too.

“Spoofing” is a common scamming technique where fraudsters use software to make their actual number appear like a different one – usually indicating a local call to the person they are calling. Many calls often do not trigger spam risk warnings.

And as most of us know by now, the difference between spam calls and scam calls is the real purpose behind the interaction. Unwanted spam calls are annoying but not necessarily malicious. Scam calls are deceiving in trying to gain personal information or money in fraudulent ways.

They have long been a pain in my neck.

Many spoofing calls replicate our local area code of 913 and, in some cases, the first three digits of local phone prefix numbers. Most of us are more likely to answer the phone if we recognize the number, or at least if it seems like a local phone call.

To help keep us safe and well advised, the Federal Communications Commission has an entire webpage devoted to the topic – fcc.gov/spoofing. The Better Business Bureau also provides a scam tracker (bbb.org/scamtracker) for anyone to report a scam or if they are concerned that they are being targeted by a scam.

Local resources include: Sheriff’s Office: To report a scam, you can reach out to the non-emergency line at 913-782-0720 or contact the Investigation Unit at 913-715-5560.

District Attorney’s Office: The Consumer Protection Unit aims to educate consumers and address complaints against area merchants. Learn more at jocogov.org/district-attorney/consumer-protection. The Consumer Fraud Hotline is 913-715-3003.

Consumers are encouraged to learn how to recognize scams and avoid them by following these common-sense tips:
• Don’t believe everything you see. Scammers are professionals at mimicking official seals, fonts and other details. Just because a website, email or caller ID looks official does not mean that it is.

• Never share personally identifiable information with someone who has contacted you unsolicited, whether it’s over the phone or by email. This includes banking and credit card information, your birthdate and Social Security numbers.

• Use secure and traceable transactions. Avoid paying by wire transfer, prepaid money card, gift card or other, nontraditional payment methods. Use a credit card whenever possible.

• Don’t be pressured into making decisions immediately. That’s good advice, but an old saying professes: You can never be too careful when it comes to addressing scams and spams.

If an unsolicited email or text message is received, don’t click on any links. Just delete them. If you want to avoid spoofing, the best plan is just don’t answer the call. Let the answering machine/voicemail get it and then decide if you should respond to the message/caller.

If you do answer an unsolicited call, don’t ask questions, don’t stay on the line, don’t banter. Just hang up. If the offer seems too good to be true, it usually is.