Why do Spam Calls come and how does your mobile number reach scammers? Know about safe and easy ways to avoid telemarketing, data leaks, auto dialers and phone spam.
Spam Call Protection: If you get a call every day on your phone asking for loan, credit card, insurance or any unknown offer, then you are not alone. These are called Spam Calls. Some calls are just for marketing, while some calls are made with the intention of defrauding people. In such a situation, the question is why do spam calls come? How does our number reach these people? Let us know.
What is a spam call?
Spam call is a call that is made without your consent by a company, telemarketing agency or scammer. Their objectives may be different.
- Promote a product or service
- Offering a loan, credit card or investment
- Fraud by taking OTP-bank details or UPI information
- Cheating on fake rewards or government schemes
Why do spam calls come?
1. Your mobile number is registered in many places
When you register your mobile number in any website, app, online shopping, bank, hotel, lucky draw or any form, many times this data reaches marketing companies. In some cases, the number ends up in the wrong hands due to data leakage or wrongful selling. If you gave your number on an online shopping website and later started receiving promotional calls from many companies on the same number, then it is possible that your number has become a part of the marketing database.
2. Telemarketing Companies
Many companies use call centers extensively to sell their products. They call millions of numbers simultaneously and hope that some people will buy their service.
Read this also- Why does the stock market fall?
3. Trap of cyber criminals
Some spam calls come directly from cyber fraudsters. They pose as bank officers, police, courier companies, CBI officers, custom officers or government agencies and ask for OTP, PIN, UPI or bank account details from people. The government says, no bank or government institution asks for OTP or password on the phone.
Read this also- Is it safe to heat food in the microwave?
4. Auto-Dialer Technique
Nowadays many companies and scammers use Auto Dialer Software. This technology can automatically call thousands of numbers in a few minutes. This is why spam calls have increased so rapidly.
5. Checking whether your number is active or not
Some scammers call random numbers. If you answer the call, they know the number is active. After this, more calls or messages start coming on that number.
How to avoid spam calls?
1. Stay alert on unknown numbers
If the number seems suspicious, first check its identity. Don’t receive calls if not necessary.
2. Never share OTP and bank details
Even if any person on the phone identifies himself as a bank official, never share OTP, ATM PIN, CVV or UPI PIN.
3. Use DND (Do Not Disturb) service
Telecom companies in India provide DND service. Turning this on can reduce many promotional calls and SMS, although it won’t stop all fraudulent calls.
4. Block Spam Numbers
Use the Block and Report Spam feature available in the phone. This reduces future calls from the same number.
5. Be alert when downloading apps
Do not give unnecessary permissions to your contacts or phone to any app.
Content Source: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Department of Telecommunications (DoT), India