What is Caller ID Spoofing?

What is Caller ID Spoofing?

Caller ID Spoofing is when fraudsters falsify the phone number that shows up on your screen. The call may appear to come from your bank, the IRS, your wireless provider, or even a friend-but it's from a scammer.

What are the warning signs of Caller ID Spoofing?

• The caller claims to be from a legitimate organization but uses threatening or urgent language.
• Pressure to act immediately (“You’ll be arrested in 30 minutes unless you pay”).
• Calls come at unusual hours for that organization.
• The caller refuses to let you hang up and call back on the official number.
• The number looks very similar to your own (a tactic called neighbour spoofing).

What scams commonly use Caller ID Spoofing?

Caller ID Spoofing is usually a gateway tactic used to make scams more believable. Common scams include:

1. Government impersonation scams – fake IRS, FBI or ICE calls demanding taxes or threatening arrest.
2. Bank fraud – scammers pretend to be your bank’s fraud department, asking for account details or transfers.
3. Tech support scams – callers claim to be from Microsoft, Apple, or your internet provider, pushing you to install remote access software.
4. Prize & lottery scams – you’re told you “won,” but must pay fees or taxes upfront.