How do scammers get my phone contact list?

11 Ways How Can Scammers Use Your Phone Number

• Access your social media accounts.
• Text message or contact your friends and family to scam them.
• Spoofing your phone number and calling people you know to commit fraud.
• Text phishing messages to your contacts – this is called “smishing.”

How do scammers get your details?

Hacking – the scammer gains access to your information by exploiting security weaknesses on your computer, mobile device or network. Scammers can also obtain your information when they hack into business or government accounts.

Where to report if you have been scammed in South Africa?

You can also contact the SAFPS on 0860 101 248 or through [email protected]. If you see a 419 Scam or an Advance Fee Scam, you can report this to [email protected].

What can scammers do with my name and address?

With a name and address, a thief can change your address via U.S. Postal Service and redirect mail to their address of choice, Velasquez says. With access to your financial mail, the thief may intercept bank statements and credit card offers or bills, then order new checks and credit cards.

How can I find out if my phone number is scammed?

Google phone lookup- Lookup the phone number on Google, sometimes people will report a phone number on scamming sites or the phone number may have been shared somewhere else online. Know when to pick up the phone- Never answer the phone if it is an unfamiliar phone number. Once a scammer reaches you, they can mark your number as active.

How can you tell if someone is scamming you on Facebook?

That friend request from the hot girl on Facebook that you’ve no idea where it came from, thats a scammer. If you accept the friend request pretty soon afterwards you get chat messages and requests to shift across onto whatsapp or hangouts, thats a scammer.

How do I find out if an email address is legit?

If it is the company’s email address it should pop up on your Google search results under somewhere on the company’s website. Report a scam- If you believe that the email address is a scam email, you could also report the email address to the FTC so that they can investigate.

How can you tell if a phone number is real or fake?

Lookup the phone number on Google, sometimes people will report a phone number on scamming sites or the phone number may have been shared somewhere else online. Never answer the phone if it is an unfamiliar phone number. Once a scammer reaches you, they can mark your number as active.