Online Threat Alerts (OTA) - Alerting you to scams and frauds.

Who Called Me Scam Calls

To identify who called you, use reverse phone lookup services like Truecaller or Sync.me to check for spam tags. Scammers often pose as trusted organizations (banks, police, government) to steal personal information or money. Be wary of unsolicited calls asking for urgent action, personal details, or unusual payments.

1. Use Reverse Phone Lookup Tools

These platforms allow you to search a specific number to see if other users have flagged it as a scam or telemarketing.

  • Truecaller: A massive community-powered database that provides an "Immediate Spam & Fraud Risk Rating" for unknown numbers.
  • Who Calls Me: A website where users post reports about specific numbers that have contacted them.
  • Sync.me: Helps identify caller names, locations, and even social profiles associated with a number.

2. Check Official Scam Databases

Depending on your location, you can check if a number or organization is a known threat.

  • UK: Use the Barclays Phone Number Checker to see if a call claiming to be from them is legitimate.
  • Singapore: Use the ScamShield tool to check if a number or link has been previously identified by authorities.
  • Global: Search the number on Google or Reddit; scammers often reuse numbers that others have already reported.

3. Understand "Scam Likely" Labels

If your phone displays a label like "Scam Likely" or "Spam Risk", your carrier (such as T-Mobile, AT&T, or Verizon) has used algorithms to flag the call as suspicious based on known spam patterns and customer feedback.

4. How to Handle Suspicious Calls

  • Do Not Call Back: Some scams, like the "one-ring" scam, are designed to trick you into calling back a premium-rate international number, resulting in high charges on your bill.
  • *Dial 57 (US): If a call is threatening or harassing, dialing *57 immediately after hanging up can trace the number and send the information to your service provider and law enforcement.
  • Verify Independently: If a caller claims to be from a government agency or your bank, hang up and call them back using a verified number from their official website.
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