Criminals are using ‘call forwarding scam’ to dupe innocent people across the country. Incidentally, this scam is not new. Telecom operators including Reliance Jio and Airtel as well as caller identifying app Truecaller have warned their users about this dangerous scam.
Despite the fact that the call forwarding scam has been around for quite some time now, scammers still manage to find ways to trick unsuspecting victims.
How the call forwarding scam works
Scammers will call people pretending to be a customer service representative from your mobile network operator or internet service provider. They ask if there is any issue with their mobile internet or broadband speed. Other common pretext include that their account has been hacked or there is some issue with their SIM card.
Fraudsters then offer a simple quick fix for this and ask smartphone users to dial a number from their phone, starting with *401*. What the scammers are actually doing is forwarding calls to a number they have. Dialing the code *401* followed by a phone number is done in order to activate call forwarding to that number.
Once they have access to your number they will try to log in to your other accounts, like messaging apps or bank accounts. Since call forwarding is enabled, the scammer can access your calls and receive voice OTPs that come on the phone.
Incidentally, there is no way for the victim to know that his calls are being forwarded to a different device. For, he will not receive any call on his phone. All calls made to him are directed to the call forwarded number.
The main objective of most of these scams or fraud schemes is to steal your money. Even though most banks make use of extremely sophisticated security systems to protect your accounts and sensitive information, there’s always a chance of a cyberattack using a small loophole. And it is smartphone users who often end up becoming that loophole. They may also get access to your WhatsApp account through this.
How to stay safe of call forwarding scam
* Make sure that you never dial codes or send SMS from your number.
* Always use a passcode or some biometric authentication to secure your phone.
* Never share sensitive information, like OTPs, with random callers who may be scammers pretending to be from your ISP or mobile network provider.
Despite the fact that the call forwarding scam has been around for quite some time now, scammers still manage to find ways to trick unsuspecting victims.
How the call forwarding scam works
Scammers will call people pretending to be a customer service representative from your mobile network operator or internet service provider. They ask if there is any issue with their mobile internet or broadband speed. Other common pretext include that their account has been hacked or there is some issue with their SIM card.
Fraudsters then offer a simple quick fix for this and ask smartphone users to dial a number from their phone, starting with *401*. What the scammers are actually doing is forwarding calls to a number they have. Dialing the code *401* followed by a phone number is done in order to activate call forwarding to that number.
Once they have access to your number they will try to log in to your other accounts, like messaging apps or bank accounts. Since call forwarding is enabled, the scammer can access your calls and receive voice OTPs that come on the phone.
Incidentally, there is no way for the victim to know that his calls are being forwarded to a different device. For, he will not receive any call on his phone. All calls made to him are directed to the call forwarded number.
The main objective of most of these scams or fraud schemes is to steal your money. Even though most banks make use of extremely sophisticated security systems to protect your accounts and sensitive information, there’s always a chance of a cyberattack using a small loophole. And it is smartphone users who often end up becoming that loophole. They may also get access to your WhatsApp account through this.
How to stay safe of call forwarding scam
* Make sure that you never dial codes or send SMS from your number.
* Always use a passcode or some biometric authentication to secure your phone.
* Never share sensitive information, like OTPs, with random callers who may be scammers pretending to be from your ISP or mobile network provider.
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Alex Smith is a writer and editor with over 10 years of experience. He has written extensively on a variety of topics, including technology, business, and personal finance. His work has been published in a number of magazines and newspapers, and he is also the author of two books. Alex is passionate about helping people learn and grow, and he believes that writing is a powerful tool for communication and understanding.
