Received call with my own name and number in caller ID!

Is this a new one? We received a call today, on our landline, with caller ID listed as OUR name and OUR telephone number. Curious, my husband answered. It was someone wanting us to refinance a credit card (which we don't have!). He hung up on them. Has anyone else gotten a call like this? And is this legal? And how do they manage it?

Not really. And its called call spoofing.

phone spoofing explanation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoofing_attack
http://www.fcc.gov/guides/caller-id-and-spoofing

Since you can't report your own number, I suggest that either emailing the FTC or calling them directly to report the call to them.

Federal Trade Commission:
www.stopfraud.gov/report.html
Phone: 1 (877) FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357)

This happened to me once before.  Call came in when I wasn't home.  No message left.

I posted this in the forum the other day, but for some reason the website will not let me access it.  So here it is again:

Hijacked phone number disrupts life in Nazareth
The Watchdog 9:33 p.m. EDT
9:33 p.m. EDT mcall.com
Hattie Doto was receiving calls by the dozen, many of them vile.
People were angry because they had received repeated phone calls from her number. Some of those
were robocalls making shady sales pitches for a roofing contractor. Others seemed to be pranks.
But Doto, of Nazareth, wasn't making the calls. Someone had hijacked her phone number, a gimmick
known as "spoofing," which is designed to conceal the true identity of the caller in the hopes you'll pick up
the phone.
Spoofing is illegal when used to commit fraud but is allowed otherwise.
Doto and her family hadn't heard of spoofing. They were forced to learn quickly and what they learned
wasn't assuring. Doto said she was told that other than changing her phone number, there was nothing
she could do.
For several weeks last month, the family endured the calls, as many as 50 a day.
"A lot of them were screaming, cursing, were very angry," Doto said.
"I couldn't even finish a conversation with someone because more people were calling in," said her
daughter, Megan Stoneback. "They're like, 'What do you want? You keep calling here, leave us alone.'
Even after you explain it to some people, they still don't get it."
Eventually, the family put a recording on its answering machine to explain it.
"Our home phone number has been stolen by criminals trying to scam you. The technical term is called
spoofing," the message said. "We can no longer continue to receive harassing voice messages from
morning until night. We are the victims here."
The spoofing started in early April. The robocalls for a roofing company said a representative would be in
the area and wanted to drop by, which is an offer you never should accept because you know nothing
about the company. Other calls seemed to be pranks, with people laughing or hanging up, Stoneback
said.
Many calls went to people Doto and Stoneback know in the Nazareth area. One even came to the Doto
home. Imagine that, hearing your phone ring and seeing on your caller ID that you're calling yourself!
The complaint calls ceased around the end of April. The family initially contacted the Watchdog to get the
word out that it wasn't making the calls. With the calls apparently over, they still wanted their story told, so
people would understand what spoofing is and how helpless victims are.
Technology makes spoofing relatively easy. It can be done using a computer or with cards similar to
calling cards.  A federal law enacted in 2010 prohibits caller ID spoofing "with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or
wrongfully obtain anything of value."
Not all spoofing is devious, though, which is why Congress hasn't outlawed it.
A domestic violence shelter might want to conceal its real number. Professionals such as doctors or
lawyers who make after-hours business calls from home might want to have their office number show up
on caller ID instead of their home number.
But spoofing often is used to commit fraud.
I wrote several years ago about a Bucks County tax collector whose number was spoofed in an apparent
attempt to trick people into providing credit card information, believing they were paying their taxes.
Doto said she sought help from various law enforcement authorities, her state representative and Verizon.
All anyone could suggest was to change her number, which she refused to do.
"Unfortunately, caller ID spoofing is frustrating not only for customers, but for companies like Verizon as
well," Verizon spokesman Lee Gierczynski said. "Verizon, or any phone carrier, has no way of determining
which numbers are legitimate and which are not."
I read similar accounts about other spoofing victims who also found no relief.
Nazareth police are investigating Doto's case but have not received complaints from people who received
the spoofed calls, only from Doto, Chief Thomas Trachta said.
Upper Nazareth Township police received one complaint from a woman who received a spoofed call from
the number. She told police the call seemed to be a scam.
"Whatever they were saying to her about roofing, she thought sounded funny," Chief Alan Siegfried said.
While police have no reports of crimes associated with the spoofed calls, the calls clearly were annoying.
Otherwise, people wouldn't have been calling back trying to stop them. Doto said people told her they got
the calls as early as 5:45 a.m. and as late as 10:15 p.m.
Spoofing is another reason to be cautious when picking up the phone. Never assume you know who is
calling, no matter what your caller ID says. If a caller asks for personal or financial information, call back
on a number you know is legitimate.
The Watchdog is published Thursdays and Sundays. Contact me at watchdog@mcall.com, 610-841-2364
or The Morning Call, 101 N. Sixth St., Allentown, PA, 18101. I'm on Twitter @mcwatchdog and Facebook
at Morning Call Watchdog.
Copyright (c) 2014 Allentown Morning Call

I believe the article will answer all your questions.

same little thing happened to me, caller id same as own, and refinance credit card

Just got the same call. It was from myself with my phone number and wanting me to refinance.

The call is coming from inside the house as in the old movie.  Actually it was "Rachel from credit card services".  Haven't heard from this scammer in a while.  It was odd having to add my own phone number to my phone that blocks unwanted calls. Yeah I know this won't stop them.

Just moments ago, I received this same type of call, but when I answered the call, no one was on the other end of the line.  I called AT&T and was told that (1) nothing could be done about it, and (2) this practice isn't illegal, which the AT&T rep referred to as "mirroring".  So, I went to the FCC website to gather more info:  http://www.fcc.gov/guides/caller-id-and-spoofing.  It seems that under certain circumstances, this practice is illegal.  However, the perpetrators of this scam cannot readily be identified.  The best thing we victims can do is file a complaint with the FCC, under the presumption that if enough people complain, the FCC might get involved.  We all know that these people can be traced somehow, but the government probably isn't going to provide the necessary resources to curb this activity.  It is worth a try, perhaps.

I have had two calls from V602153050000148 and in addirion to that number showing on caller id, my home number appears as well.  I called comcast, they said they would do an investigation (still waiting but not holding my breath).  It's very disturbing to see call supposedly coming in from yourself.  I cant report myself to the FCC!  I do not answer calls from #'s I don't know, even if they are from "me"....

Yes  just yesterday same thing happened to me and I hung up

I received 31 similar unwanted solicitor & scam calls since April 1, 2014 - I have a security screen on my phone & these calls still get through with no name on Caller ID & I have an unlisted phone number. Call your phone provider & get an unlisted phone number & ask for free "Caller ID Block" for your phone number (*67) - it can help prevent your phone from receiving as many unwanted calls. Be sure to have the phone company "Omit Listing" publishing of your phone number.

Harassing Phone Calls: What To Do

Obscene or harassing phone calls can be one of the most stressful and frightening invasions of privacy a person experiences. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help put an end to these unwelcome intrusions.

What makes a phone call harassing?

When someone calls and uses obscene or threatening language, or even heavy breathing or silence to intimidate you, you are receiving a harassing call. It is against the law in California and other states to make obscene or threatening calls. (California Penal Code section 653m, Penal Code section 422-422.1)

How often do I have to get these calls to make it harassment?

Just one unwelcome call can be harassing; but usually your local phone company will not take action unless the calls are frequent. However, if a call specifically threatens you or your family with bodily harm, the phone company will generally take immediate action.

Who should I contact when I get harassing calls?

Local phone companies have varying policies on whether to call the phone company or the police first. Some recommend that you first call the phone company's business office and explain the problem. A representative will connect you with the "annoyance desk." Other phone companies may require you to file a formal complaint with local law enforcement before they will deal with the matter. To find out what your phone company's policy is, contact the business office and ask for assistance.

For serious threats, if life or property are threatened, or if calls are obscene, you should call the police and file a report. Provide as much information to law enforcement as you can. Indicate the gender of the caller and describe the caller's voice. Note the time and date of the call(s). What did the caller say? How old did he/she sound? Did the caller seem intoxicated? Did he/she have an accent or speech impediment? Was there any background noise? Was a phone number/name displayed on the Caller ID device?

What can my local phone company do if I am receiving harassing calls?

If the calls are frequent or particularly threatening, the phone company can set up a "Trap" on your phone line. The Trap allows the phone company to determine the telephone number from which the harassing calls originate. You must keep a log noting the time and date the harassing calls are received. Traps are usually set up for no more than two weeks. The phone company does not charge a fee for Traps.

A phone company service called Call Trace may also be able to help track down harassing calls. Immediately after receiving a harassing call, you enter the code *57 on your phone and the call is automatically traced (1157 on rotary phones). Call Trace is easier than using a Trap since the customer does not have to keep a phone log. But Call Trace technology works only within the local service area. (Look in the "Customer Guide" section of the phone book or the phone company's web site for a description of your local service area.)

Call Trace must be set up in advance by the individual receiving harassing calls, and it requires a fee for use. However, in situations where the phone company would ordinarily use a Trap, you might not be charged if the phone company suggests that Call Trace be used as an alternative. Be sure to ask.

The information collected from Call Trace or from a Trap is turned over to law enforcement personnel, not the customer. Law enforcement officers try to stop the harassing calls by either warning or arresting the harasser. With both Call Trace and a Trap, your phone conversations are not listened to or recorded by the phone company.

Is the phone company always able to solve harassing phone call problems?

No. If the caller uses a phone booth or multiple phone lines, the phone company and law enforcement officials may never get enough identification to take further action. In cases like these, changing your phone number might help. Also, you might want to get an unlisted or unpublished number. In addition, the tips listed below for discouraging other types of unwanted calls may be of help.

What can I do to stop harassing calls without going to the phone company or police?

First, simply hang up on the caller. Do not engage in conversation. Typical crank callers are seeking attention. You have "made their day" if you say something to them or express shock or anger.

If the silent treatment does not work, you might try putting a message like this on your voice mail system:

I'm sorry I/we can't come to the phone right now but you must leave a message. I/we are receiving annoyance calls and the phone company has a trap on this line. If you do not leave a message I/we will assume that you are the annoyance caller and this call will be traced.
If you answer the phone and the harassing caller is on the line, another suggestion is to say: "Operator, this is the call." Then hang up. Or say the word "trap," what time it is and the date; then hang up.

What is the "pressure valve" strategy?

Some threatening calls are part of a larger pattern of abuse, such as stalking. Some experts recommend in these situations to get a new phone number, but keep the phone number being called by the harasser and attach a voice mail machine or message service to that line. Turn the phone's ringer off and don't use that phone line for anything other than capturing the calls of the harasser.

This is the pressure valve strategy. The harasser will continue to call the unused number and will think that he/she is getting through. Instead, you are simply using the number to gather evidence. You will want to save tape recordings of the calls.Get another phone number for your use, and be sure it's unlisted and unpublished. Give the number to trusted friends and relatives only. Do not give it to your bank, credit card company or credit bureau. Put passwords on all of your phone accounts (local, long distance, and mobile). Tell the phone companies in writing that they must not disclose any account information to anyone but yourself, and only when the correct password is given.

What precautions can I take to prevent harassment?

Do not disclose personal information when called by someone you do not know. They might be checking out the residence for possible robbery or other crime. If the caller asks what number they have called, do not give it. Instead, ask them to tell you what number they dialed.

To prevent being targeted for obscene calls and heavy breathing, women should only list their first initial and last name in the phone directory. Having an unlisted number is another option.

Children should be instructed to never reveal information to unknown callers. Instead, they should be taught to record the caller's name and phone number along with date and time.

Do not include your telephone number on the outgoing message of your voice mail service if you wish to keep your number private. By omitting your phone number from your message, you prevent random dialers from capturing this information.

Other steps that could be taken, getting a caller ID and merely not answering a call from a number you do not know-most of these callers will continue to call if someone merely picks up the phone. Let it go to an answering machine so you can get a recording of the call as evidence.

Got the call last week. When I saw the caller ID I was surprised. I didn't remember calling myself..lol It showed my name and phone number in the caller ID.Now I know it is called spoofing. They left no message. I don't answer the phone if I don't recognize the number. Let them wear their fingers out dialing..I only have my landline for emergencies so who cares. I will just turn it down. Human craftiness always amazes me. If only they would put that thinking into solving some of the worlds problems like world hunger, sickness or something else that would be useful to mankind ..

"Card Services"  fooled me once sometime back by using a spoofed caller ID a few digits off from my cell number.  Now I've been getting repeated (unanswered) calls from another number a few digits higher than mine.  I don't know the person who legitimately owns the number and I doubt that he even knows his number has been spoofed.