Caller-ID is a great invention, especially for those of us who deal with the public.
If the caller doesn’t choose to block information from the recipient, it lets us know their name, the correct spelling, and the phone number from where they are calling us.
<<==Maxwell Smart speaking to Agent 99
In the main, it’s been pretty reliable.
That is, until now.
Enter the latest scam.
There are sources available on the Internet – whether they are domestic or foreign in location – that, for a fee, can change the information your phone call posts on recipients' Caller-IDs.
That’s right. I suppose I could have my telephone Caller-ID programmed to announce that you’re not getting a phone call from me, but from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
And I could either have my correct home phone number shown, or I could actually have the FBI’s number shown.
So what do you do when you are suspicious or it’s important to you that the person calling is who he says he is?
Tell the caller you’ll call him back. Get his full name, then look-up the company’s main phone number on the Internet, then call and ask for him.
BILL CHERRY, REAL ESTATE BROKER
Dallas – Park Cities
Since 1964
214 503-8563
Wow, that is good to know! Thanks for the informative post Bill.
Good post and solution. One of the reasons that I look at the caller id is to insure the caller is who they say they are. Might not be as smart as I thought I was lol. Thanks Bill.
Many offices will only confirm showing appointment. through the real estate office not with the agent when they call. Buyers were impersonating agents trying to et into homes.
Bill, this is a wonderful post. This happened to a eldery woman I know. She was scammed last year. When the FBI got involved...it turn out the crooks did exactly what you are talking about. We cannot be too careful these days.
I have my contacts in my Google contacts and if they have a Google+ profile, their photo shows on my smartyphone. I have programmed it to NOT ring blocked or unidentified calls - they go straight to my voicemail
Thanks for the heads up Bill!
All out of area calls (except clients from out of town that I've spoken with directly) to my phone go directly to voice mail for screening. If it's legit or someone I want to hear from I'll call them right back.
Thanks to all of you for your comments and suggestions.
Things certainly have gotten complicated, haven't they?
The feds have released the extra bandwidith and any cellphone company, anywhere can give you a number that has different area codes, etc.. It can look like you are receiving a long distance call and the person can be right beside you. Add that to the ID scam and it gets down right scary.
Thanks for the valuable information...I didn't realize that this was happening. I guess whereever a potential for a scam is there, someone will take advantage of it!
Bill, thanks for the heads up on this Caller ID scam. I have had this happen at my house.