Caller ID Spoofing: How to Spot Fake Numbers
Critical Warning: Never trust the number on your screen. If your phone says "Barclays" or "Met Police" are calling, it does NOT mean it is true. Scammers can display any name or number they choose.
For decades, we were taught to trust Caller ID. If the local area code popped up, it was a local call. If the bank's number popped up, it was the bank. Sadly, those days are over.
Spoofing is the act of disguising a phone number to mimic a trusted source. It is the telephone equivalent of a forged letterhead. Today, a scammer sitting in an overseas call center can make your phone ring with a number that looks like it is coming from your local town hall, your GP surgery, or even your own house.
How Does It Work?
It relies on Voice over IP (VoIP) technology—making calls over the internet. When you set up a VoIP system, you can often manually input the "Outgoing Caller ID" digits.
Why Scammers Do It:
- Local Trust: You are more likely to answer a call from your own area code (e.g., 0161 for Manchester) than an "Unknown" or international number.
- Authority: By spoofing the official number of HMRC or a bank (which you might have saved in your contacts), they bypass your suspicion immediately.
- Evasion: By constantly changing their number, they avoid being blocked.
The "Neighbor" Spoof
Have you ever received a call from a number that looks almost identical to yours?
Example: Your number is 07700 912 345. The scammer calls you from 07700 912 346.
This is deliberate. They know that when you see a number that starts with the same 6-7 digits as yours, your brain subconsciously recognizes it as "familiar" or "local," making you more likely to pick up.
What is "Number Cloning"?
Sometimes, scammers will pick a random real number to spoof—and it might be yours.
If you suddenly start receiving angry texts or calls from strangers asking "Why did you call me?", your number has likely been spoofed. The scammer is using your ID to call thousands of people.
What to do: Sadly, there is little you can do but wait. Scammers usually cycle through numbers quickly. It typically stops within 24-48 hours. If it persists, you may need to change your number.
How to Spot a Spoofed Call
- 1. Call Quality: VoIP calls from overseas often have a slight delay or "crackly" quality, even if the number looks local.
- 2. The "Hang Up and Call Back" Test: If the caller claims to be from your bank or the police, tell them: "I am going to hang up and call you back on the official number."
Important: Wait 5 minutes before calling back, or use a different phone line. Scammers can sometimes keep the line open (landlines only), so you think you are dialing a new number but are still speaking to them.
