Watch out for fake phone numbers!

One the latest tricks used by criminals is faking the caller-ID. This is done relatively easily using VIOP (Voice Over IP) technology, the same technology that lets us make phone calls over the internet. This is the telephone equivalent of sending SPAM from a fake address so that it makes it through the email filter.

Some criminals have gone so far as to mimic an actual telephone voice response system using this same technology.

Tip: Never give up your personal information to any stranger unless you can verify their identity. Do simple checks, like looking up their phone numbers or addresses, to see if they are who they say they are.