SPAM: Unknown caller on cell phone
Unknown callers: you should always ignore these phone numbers
Calls from unknown numbers often turn out to be spam or advertising. We show you how to recognize in seconds whether the call is trustworthy or not.
Your smartphone rings, an unknown number calls and the person on the phone wants to convince you to invest in shares or change your cell phone contract. In some cases, they hang up as soon as you answer the call.
In most cases, these are unwanted spam calls from fraudsters or dubious companies who want to steal your data or lure you into a cost trap when you call back.
Many newer cell phones now recognize spam calls automatically and show a warning on the display with "potential spam". Advertising calls without explicit permission are not legally permitted in Germany, which is why scammers often change their numbers. It is therefore not always possible for the smartphone to detect dubious callers.
However, with a clever tool, you can quickly find out whether the number calling you is genuine.
Check spam calls: It works with these tools
If you are unsure whether a number comes from a call center, you can use free websites. For example:
There you can simply enter the data and check whether someone else has already been called. In addition to the phone number, you can also view the type of call (advertising, survey, competition, etc.) and decide whether it is worth calling back.
According to the tellows.de database, warnings are issued for the following numbers and their scams, among others:
- 03080098648
Caller name: Apotherkerbund
Scam: Supposed survey on health with alleged free newspaper subscription as expense allowance. - +16465535819
Caller name: Immobilien Anruf New York
Scam: Call center marketing apartments with outdated real estate scout ads. - 022166951483
Caller name: EWE Energiezentrale
Scam: Supposed energy provider from Cologne trying to sell dubious electricity tariffs. - 01637875622
Caller name: Gewinnspiel
Fraudulent scam: The callers pretend to have a competition subscription that must be paid for immediately or else it will be extended for another 12 months at a charge. - 069222224635
Caller name: Energieportal
Scam: Alleged energy company trying to advertise alternative energy sources with cold calls. - 017688854744
Caller name: O2
Scam: Data fraud and "yes" scam in which bogus contracts are concluded after a "yes" is spoken. The fraudsters pretend to be O2 employees and ask you for your details. - 053120970053
Caller name: Law enforcement agency
Fraud scam: Those affected are deceived with a computer message claiming to be from Europol (European Police Office). The same number is sometimes used for other scams, e.g. alleged financial and crypto advice.
Some users claim to have been put under pressure by the spam callers. If you receive a dubious call and are also pressured into signing a contract, you can dispense with the pleasantries. Simply hang up and block the number. To warn other people about being ripped off, report the data to Cleverdialer or tellows.
Our advice: If you receive a call from an unknown number, it is best not to answer it at all. Reputable companies usually leave a message on your mailbox or the number can easily be assigned to a company via Google search.
Found on CHIP.