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Vishing (Voice Phishing): This scheme involves criminals using deceptive phone calls to trick individuals into divulging sensitive personal or financial information. Vishing attackers frequently employ caller ID spoofing to make their calls appear to originate from trusted entities, such as your bank, a government agency (including the FBI itself), or a reputable tech support company. They often create a strong sense of urgency or fear, or dangle tempting offers, to pressure victims into acting without critical thought.

Smishing (SMS Phishing): , smishing relies on malicious text messages. Your phone number is the direct recipient of these texts, which often contain malicious links or requests for personal data. A compromised phone number can also be used by criminals to send these fraudulent messages or to receive responses from unsuspecting victims.


SIM Swapping/Porting: This is one of the most insidious guatemala phone number list and dangerous forms of phone number fraud. Criminals trick your mobile carrier into transferring your existing phone number to a SIM card they control. Once they hijack your number, they can intercept calls and, more critically, text messages that contain one-time passwords (OTPs) or multi-factor authentication (MFA) codes. This allows them to bypass security measures on numerous online accounts, including email, banking, social media, and cryptocurrency platforms, leading to widespread account takeovers and significant financial loss.


Government Impersonation Scams: Scammers frequently spoof the phone numbers of legitimate government agencies, including the IRS, Social Security Administration, local police departments, or even the FBI. They then pose as officials and demand money, often insisting on untraceable payment methods like gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency, under false pretenses such as overdue taxes, outstanding warrants, or compromised identities.

Tech Support Scams: Fraudsters initiate contact, often via a spoofed phone number, claiming to be from a well-known technology company. They allege a problem with your computer or device, with the ultimate goal of gaining remote access to your system to steal personal information, install malware, or extort money for unnecessary "repairs."
To mitigate these threats, the FBI offers a comprehensive set of proactive prevention measures:

Maintain Healthy Skepticism: Be inherently suspicious of any unsolicited calls or text messages, especially those demanding personal or financial information. Legitimate organizations rarely request sensitive data over the phone.
Independently Verify Identity: If you receive a suspicious call claiming to be from a known entity, hang up immediately. Do not rely on the number provided by the caller. Instead, independently verify the caller's identity by looking up the official contact information for the organization from a trusted source (e.g., their official website, a recent bill) and calling them back directly.
Limit Public Information: Avoid publicly posting your phone number, address, or other personal identifying information on social media or public forums. Scammers actively harvest this data for targeted attacks.
Secure Your Cellular Account: Contact your mobile service provider to set up a strong PIN or password on your account. This crucial step helps prevent unauthorized changes, such as SIM swaps. The FBI also suggests placing a special note on your account requiring in-person verification for any significant changes.
Utilize Strong Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): While SMS-based MFA can be vulnerable to SIM swapping, the FBI strongly advocates for using more robust MFA methods like authenticator apps (e.g., Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator) or physical security tokens whenever possible, as these offer greater resilience against phone number compromises.
Employ Unique and Strong Passwords: Create and use unique, complex passwords (or lengthy passphrases) for all your online accounts and avoid reusing them across different services.
Beware of Pressure Tactics and Unusual Payments: A common characteristic of scams is the creation of extreme urgency to pressure victims into making hasty decisions. Any caller demanding immediate payment, especially via unconventional methods like gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency, is a significant red flag.
If you suspect you have fallen victim to phone number fraud, the FBI advises swift and decisive action:

Contact Your Mobile Carrier Immediately: If you suspect a SIM swap, contact your mobile service provider without delay to regain control of your phone number.
Change All Passwords: As soon as you regain control, promptly change all your online account passwords, prioritizing email, banking, and social media accounts.
Notify Financial Institutions: Alert your bank and other financial institutions to potential fraud. Place alerts on your accounts and diligently monitor for any suspicious activity or unauthorized transactions.