Phone Scam — A phone scam is a fraud conducted through a live call, robocall, voicemail, or voice message in which a criminal impersonates a trusted person or organization to obtain money, information, account access, or control over a device. The caller may claim to represent a bank, government agency, police department, court, utility company, technology provider, employer, charity, hospital, delivery service, or distressed family member, and caller ID spoofing allows the displayed name and number to appear genuine. The criminal creates fear, urgency, secrecy, authority, or excitement while demanding payment, credentials, security codes, remote access, or immediate action, and artificial intelligence now allows criminals to imitate familiar voices with convincing emotional detail. A person confronted by such a call protects against manipulation by ending the conversation and contacting the claimed individual or organization through independently obtained information, because no legitimate caller needs to prevent verification, demand secrecy, or require unusual payment methods. — Impersonation and Communication Fraud

Added September 29, 2026