16 Ways You Can be Phone Scammed

You forgot one:

The MLM companies that are now calling people if they are looking for full or part time employment, trap people into an "interview" which is really a high priced sales scheme to get them to join the MLM company.

It's reported all over your site, and it's a travesty this day and age.

Toner Cartridge Scam
I received the call at work - no company name was given - they started with we need to verify the serial numbers of your printers - I demanded to know what company they were with and they gave some name and I said our contract is not with your company and hung-up

Just got another 'There is nothing wrong but we would like to help you lower your interest' calls.

I played it up.  Carry $18K in Credit card debt, unemployed and have missed the last 3 payments on the card.

Typical "run, don't walk away" signs for a legit finance company.

The fellow on the phone explained that they approach Visa with 100 such accounts and never get refused their demand to lower the rates or balances.

He was more interested that I had not maxed out my card rather than my ability to repay.

Scam!!

I found a method years ago that drive these jerks nuts. I leave the circuit open and place the phone in the freezer, right next to the little fan in the back, which just happens to be hitting a small piece of plastic bag top each time it rotates. I've listened in to that from another of our phones. It is truly nauseatingly annoying.
I haven't had one of these idiots yet be able to withstand it.

Basic rule of thumb, If anyone asks you to verify information( Credit Card, Bank Account, SSN or Date of Birth for example) have them TELL YOU what they have on record. Even if they supply you with any correct information, DO NOT correct any incorrect information.
Personal information is easily obtained, and all they may need is one last bit to complete the scam.

The main question is who is doing the calling, if you initiate the call then you have the option of the information you want to give, however if you receive the call then DO NOT give out any personal information that you do not feel comfortable giving.  It is just common sense.

Great article. I have never answered any of the scams. Wish they could be stopped.

Does anyone know why my landline phone's caller ID gives the same # and name which is incorrect for two different cell phones both are serviced by Altell and are in two different peoples names and accounts?  They have had their phones for years and they used to come up on my caller ID with their correct # and name.  This just started the 12th of this month. I would like an explanation.  I advised both parties and they don't seem concerned as my phone seems to be the only one that has this odd name and # show up.  I never know which one is calling! about having someone else with the Altell service call me, just to check it out, but enoughs enough!

I sometimes get a scammer saying I won $100 free gas.
I never accept it but I think it should be reported on this

Today someone called me, Caller ID showed Unknown Name, Unknown Number. I answered it anyway. Sorry I did.  It was a lady who said that she was calling about a medical bill I owe. Not very large. I told her I sent a partial payment in today (because I did.) Then she wanted me to pay for the rest in full, asked if I had a credit card. I don't, told her no, and that I would need to pay this out in small partial payments, because I have several other medical bills I must pay also, and am trying to pay everyone something. Oh, and she told me the call was being recorded. She said she was calling to make a "settlement" arrangement to have the bill paid, and that it had to be a certain amount more than I offered to be within the hospitals guidelines. Finally, we agreed on $20.00/mo by the 12th until paid off. Oh, and she said they would be sending me monthly bills for me to mail back.  I just don't trust this person, and after reading some of these comments, and checking out the hospital on line, I think I will actually go to the hospital to make the payments, to make sure they are actually going to the hospital. My husband later tried to call the Unknown Number back, and it would not ring anywhere.  He also called the hospital and spoke with someone there who told him that they do not do that for outstanding bills. It seems to me that if the hospital wants to turn a bill over to collections, they would send something to us in writing stating so, or final notice or something.  
Besides this, we've received a lot of calls where the caller ID is unknown unknown, and when we answer, no one is there, it's just nothing. This has been reported by a lot of other people on line, there is also a telephone number with a Houston, TX area code that we get, and when we answer, no one is there.  So, we just don't answer those calls.  Don't know why I answered that one today.  I asked the lady if she was from a collection agency, and she said no, the hospital. It doesn't make sense. Does anyone know if this is typical of St. David's North Austin Hospital?

Auto warranty calls show as 800 number as =Service=. I tried to find out what information they have on my car.  The guy told me he does not give that information out, I would have to provide that information, then he hung up on me.

Awesome!!  I constantly get calls on my cell phone about the "auto warranty.. this is your 2nd notice that your warranty will be expiring soon!"
Didn't know it was a scam, just figured the person who had my cell number before had a real warranty that was expiring.

Watch out for GOOGLE MONEY TREE I remember seeing an ad to make money from home. I clicked on it to read and soon enough I wanted to see their info, I started to fill out the sign up for free info. I got my email, name and phone number printed it, then I changed my mind and clicked close. Now what baffles me is the fact that I still got emails and phone calls? This is how I know they are scammers/hackers. They must have some sort of thing to save recently typed information and use it to call and email you or steal your money/identity. It's [***] and it should be stopped.
Be careful everyone!

Im freaking out! Someone from 1-667-671-9489 just called like 5 minutes ago to talk to my husband. He kept asking.. What do you want? he told me our address and called me by my first name. Like he knew me. He tried to varify my husbands date of birth with me and I kept saying WHAT do you want... He said he was from bank of america and I said. We dont bank with bank of america. He said if you have any questiong please call (and gave the toll free number to bank of america)
How do these people already have some of our info? Are they trying to get more information? Like SSN, CC numbers etc? I guess it's not to hard to figure out a name, address and someone's birthday!!! BUT, gosh.. now im freaked out! I could hear people laughing in the background and he was SO RUDE TO ME!!!!

How do you protect yourself from this stuff?  Should I get a think on my credit report that when activty happens (new accounts etc) I am contacted???