Telephone scams are nothing new. But many older people still fall for them! Find out how to recognise a scammer on the phone and stop being taken in!

Three common scams

In the world of telephone scams, three patterns tend to stand out. By learning about these different schemes, you can considerably reduce the risk of being scammed. Here's how these fraudulent practices work:

Call from your bank

This is certainly the most common scam, and yet it's still one of the most effective! You receive a call from someone pretending to be a representative of your bank or a high authority (police, FPS Finance, etc.). This person claims that you have been the victim of fraud or that you are behind with your payments. The swindler then asks you to provide your bank details (credit card number, secret code, bank account number, etc.) so that the current case can be closed. Unfortunately, once you have this personal information, your account is emptied!

Advantageous offer

In this case, the scammers pose as a cold-calling company. The so-called salesperson then offers you a tempting deal that's hard to refuse (a nice trip, a discount voucher, samples, etc.), all for free or for a derisory price. They then ask you for your e-mail address so that they can send you the offer by e-mail. You will never receive this e-mail. A few days later, however, you will receive a payment order from a debt collection agency. To make sure you don't get cheated, check that this agency is on the FPS Economy list. If it isn't, don't reply to the e-mail and everything will be fine. 

Call me back

Finally, in the last case, you receive a rather vague text or voice message asking you to contact someone. Curious, and thinking you're doing the right thing, you decide to call this unknown number back... What you don't know is that the number in question is a premium-rate number, the cost of which will be added to your telephone bill! The more time you spend on the phone, the higher the cost. And we're talking hundreds of euros here!

The right reflexes to adopt

Don't answer unknown numbers

Here's the first rule to follow if you want to avoid malicious calls. Don't answer unfamiliar numbers! This will avoid any unpleasant surprises. For example, make a note of the numbers of your friends and family on a piece of paper near your landline. This way you can quickly look them up before picking up.

Never give out your bank details

This is a golden rule! Never, under any circumstances, give out your bank details! No official service will ask you to share such personal information. So if someone asks you for your bank details, hang up immediately!

Offer to visit them

Your bank will never ask you to make a payment over the phone. If something seems suspicious, offer to pay the charges at your bank branch. If the person you're talking to refuses, it's probably a scam.

Stay clear-headed

The services you use (bank, telephone operator, electricity company, etc.) already have your bank details. And yes, you pay their bill every month! Why would they suddenly ask you to provide it again? If these services have vital information to pass on to you, they will probably do so by means of an official paper letter.

Avoid waiting too long on the phone

To avoid unpleasant surprises with premium rate numbers, be vigilant. When a suspicious number calls you and puts you on hold (background music, etc.), don't wait and hang up.Before picking up, check that the number does not begin with 07 or 09, as these are generally premium rate numbers.

Trust your instincts

Does the offer you get on the phone sound suspicious? Don't accept it. Ask, for example, if other information is available on the company's website and interrupt the conversation as soon as possible.

What should I do if I've been the victim of a scam?

Have you fallen for a telephone scam? Contact the police on 101 or report the scam on the official website Point de Contact, the platform for combating scams. Reporting will help investigators put a stop to these fraudulent practices and inform the public about the tactics used.