Bedford Police Warn Of 'Caller ID Spoofing' Scams

BEDFORD, NH — The Bedford police are warning residents about scammers that use "caller ID spoofing." This scamming technique alters the caller ID to get people to pick up the phone. The scammers' goal is to get you to reveal valuable personal information, which can then be illegally sold or used to commit fraud, according to police.

Caller ID spoofing means deliberately falsifying information that is transmitted to the caller ID display to disguise the identity of the one making the call, police say. It can be done for scamming, or for legitimate purposes such as displaying a toll-free number for a business.

• Police say that with "neighbor scamming," the caller ID displays a phone number that is similar to your own, which increases the chances of a potential victim picking up the phone.
• The Bedford police offer the following tips to address caller ID spoofing:
• Never give out personal information during unexpected calls or if suspicious.
• Always verify the authenticity of suspicious requests by calling the phone number of the company or agency that the caller is claiming to represent.
• Use caution if being pressured for information immediately
• Set a password for your voicemail account if it's part of your phone service.

For those whose phone number is being spoofed, there are some tips as well. If your phone number is showing up on others' caller ID, it's a good idea to put a message on your voicemail stating your phone number is being spoofed. According to the Bedford police, scammers typically change phone numbers frequently, so it's likely that one person's phone number will only be spoofed for a few hours.

To report a case of caller ID spoofing, residents may file a complaint with the FCC online or by calling 1-888-225-5322.