It can be difficult to keep up with who has your personal information when you use electronic payment methods. You may give out your credit or debit card number when you pay bills. Some bill collectors even require your bank account number. Sometimes companies call to collect payments or discuss your bill. Problems arise, however, when you get multiple calls asking for personal information. Dishonest people may pretend to be a trusted company when they are trying to steal your information. Instead of sharing your information with random callers, you should take the time to look up the mysterious phone number.
Wait for a Message
If you suspect that you are getting spam calls you may want to refrain from answering the phone and let the voicemail pick-up the call. This way you can see if the caller has something relevant to say. If the message seems vague, you may have some concern about the caller. Many bill collectors leave minimal information so that you call back out of curiosity. If you try to return a spam call, the number is often invalid. If there is no voicemail or the message is unusual, try a reverse phone lookup to get more accurate information.
Don’t Give Information
It is common to be asked for information on the phone when something needs to be verified, however, this could also be a dangerous scam. If you receive a phone call and are asked to give your personal identification numbers, bank account information, or credit card numbers you should hang up the phone. The caller may try to convince you they are a legitimate company by stating some information about your account. It is best to make calls yourself, so you know you are calling the right company. Use the reverse phone lookup to find out who made the call and block them if you need to.
Pay Close Attention to your Financial Responsibilities
There are many common scams that revolve around basic services. You may receive a call, for example, that your car warranty is expired, and you need to renew by giving payment information. Make sure you know if you have a car warranty or when yours expires. This is a popular scam to get your credit card information. You can immediately block the call and look up the number to find out more information. You may also get calls that state they are from your credit card company, bank, or other financial account.
Modern technology makes it easy to pay your bills from your computer or phone. It can be stressful, however, to worry about the safety of your personal information. Take the time to look up unknown calls so you can keep your identity safe. This also helps you know what numbers you need to block or report. You can often get hints from voicemails that these callers leave, as well. If you get a strange call or voicemail, look up the number. Never give your information to an unknown caller.
