What Is Call Spoofing?

What Is a Spoof Call?

Call spoofing, sometimes referred to as caller ID spoofing, is when a caller changes the phone number that shows up on your caller ID when you receive a call. The call appears as if it's coming from a source you know or trust, such as a close relative, a business you use or a government agency. Once the scammer gets you on the phone, they may try to get you to give them money or personal information.

Call spoofing is typically a tactic used by scammers, even though it's illegal to defraud or cause harm to someone. It can also be legally used for legitimate purposes by businesses, government agencies and other organizations as long as it is not meant to deceive or cause harm.

Here's how it works: Many spoofed calls are made using international networks, or more commonly, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). VoIP lets people place calls through the internet instead of traditional phone lines to avoid detection. It also allows the caller to change the information that shows up on your caller ID, which is how scammers make their calls look like they are coming from someone you might trust.

Examples of Spoof Calls

You've likely seen call spoofing in action when you get a phone call from a number that is nearly identical to your own. It may even show your exact name and number. Scammers do this because they recognize many people no longer answer phone calls from numbers they don't recognize and they hope a familiar number will trick you into answering.

Here are some of the most common types of spoof calls you may come across:

• Family emergency spoofing: Here, the caller ID appears to be a relative or friend. Once you answer, the person on the other end may claim your loved one is in immediate trouble, such as in jail and needing bail money. You may be more likely to answer the call if the spoofed number matches someone in your contacts.
• Bank account scams: As with emails and texts, be suspicious of any calls from someone claiming to be from your bank. With call spoofing, someone could pretend to be a bank representative informing you of an issue with your account. The scammer will likely ask for your account number, PIN and other information and say it's to verify your account. In reality, however, they want these details to gain access to your account and your money.
• Emergency spoofing: Some callers hide their identity by showing "911 Emergency" on the caller ID. This scammer's goal is to create urgency to make you panic and act quickly without thinking.
• Government scams: Be wary of any calls appearing to come from a government agency, especially if the caller wants you to give them personal details. There's a good chance it's a spoofed call aiming to steal your information.
• Unpaid tax scams: A spoofer pretending to be from the IRS might claim you owe back taxes and need to pay them immediately. The IRS notes on their website that they will never call to demand you make an immediate payment using a specific payment method such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer. The agency will usually send you a bill in the mail if you have unpaid taxes.
• Tech support scams: You may receive a call that looks like it's coming from a computer company you recognize or use, such as Apple or Microsoft. The caller might claim there's a security issue on your computer and want remote access to "fix" the issue, and may even want a credit card payment for the service. Once they have access, they could also try to install malware or other malicious programs.
• Prize and business opportunity scams: Someone calls saying you won a prize or tries to pitch you a business opportunity. Just remember, if you have to pay a fee to claim a prize or access an opportunity, it's not legitimate.
• Deepfake voice scams: Advanced technology now makes it possible to impersonate people you know, from relatives to executives at your company. Using a spoofed caller ID along with a deepfake voice, a scammer could try to trick you into transferring money or giving up personal information.

Learn more: The Latest Scams You Need to Be Aware of

How to Avoid Call Spoofing

According to Experian's 2025 U.S. Identity and Fraud Report, 57% of consumers say they're still concerned about doing things online, with phone scams and phishing messages among their chief concerns. It's imperative to be cautious when any caller requests money or personal information. Follow these tips to help protect yourself against caller ID spoofing scams:

• Don't pick up calls from unknown numbers. Avoid picking up calls from numbers you don't know. If you pick up a call from a number you don't recognize and they make suspicious requests, hang up immediately.
• Don't respond to opt-out prompts. A person or recording may ask you to press a button or say something to stop further calls. Don't do it. Hang up instead. By responding, you could be letting scammers know your number is active, and it'll likely lead to even more calls.
• Hang up and call back. If you're in doubt about whether a call is legit but want to make sure, immediately hang up and contact the government office, person or company yourself to confirm its legitimacy.
• Don't give out information on the phone. Receiving a call out of the blue from a caller who asks for information is a sign of a scam.
• Avoid replying with "yes" or "no." Watch out for people who try to bait you to say "yes" by asking whether you can hear them on the phone. They may make a voice recording of your answer, which could be used out of context to agree to future calls or transactions.
• Don't fall for fear tactics. Scammers may resort to threats, hoping you'll make quick decisions under duress. Don't be afraid to hang up and ask a family member or trusted friend for their opinion if you're not sure whether or not the call is legitimate.
• Set a password for your voicemails. You need a password for your voicemails to help stop nefarious actors from hijacking your account or listening to sensitive messages. Keep in mind, voicemail services often allow you to access messages if you call from your home phone. Hackers know this and may spoof your home phone number to gain access to your voicemail if it's not password protected.
• Block unknown numbers. Most smartphones let you block or silence calls from unknown numbers. If you have a home phone, you could purchase a blocker device or ask your service provider what blocking features are available.
• Don't allow remote access to your computer. Scammers may call and pretend to be a computer technician who needs to run a diagnostic test on your computer. Never give an unsolicited caller remote access to any of your devices, no matter what company they claim to be with.

Learn more: What to Do When a Scammer Calls

What to Do if You're a Victim of Call Spoofing

If you've accidentally shared personal or financial information during a spoofed call, you need to act fast. Follow these steps to contain the damage and keep your accounts and identity safe.

• Assess the damage. Take a moment to review bank and credit card statements and look for any charges you don't recognize. Get your free credit reports from the three major credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax), and check them for new accounts or loans you did not open. Remember, you have the right to dispute erroneous or fraudulent information on your credit reports.
• Contact your bank and other affected companies. Call the fraud department for all financial institutions where your accounts could be at risk. Report any unauthorized charges, cancel compromised accounts and ask about what fraud protections they offer to bolster the protection on your accounts.
• Freeze your credit. You have the right to freeze your credit, and it's critical to do so as soon as possible to restrict access to your credit file. That makes it harder for fraudsters to open new accounts in your name. You'll need to freeze your credit files with each credit bureau separately.
• Update and protect your password information. If you gave out information over the phone or think any of your accounts could be at risk, change your passwords right away. Create unique and strong passwords and turn on multifactor authentication to add extra protection for your accounts.
• Update your backup number on key accounts. Remove your old number if it was compromised and replace it with a backup, like a family member's or a secondary phone. This helps to prevent scammers from using your old number to reset your passwords or get your security codes.
• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). An FTC report can be invaluable to help prove you're a victim of identity theft. File an official identity theft report at IdentityTheft.gov. You might also report the incident to ReportFraud.ftc.gov to help catch the thieves and prevent them from scamming others.
• File a police report. A police report can help you challenge fraudulent charges, and your bank or credit card company may require one to get your money back. Bring your ID, any proof of the scam and your FTC report to the local station and ask for the officer in charge of the fraud department.
• Warn family and friends. Let those close to you know your phone has been compromised and to be cautious if they receive any calls or messages from someone claiming to be you. Keep in mind, AI voice cloning technology allows scammers to duplicate your voice and use it to fool others into sending money or giving up sensitive information.

Tip: Be on the lookout for a repeat offense. The FTC warns that scammers may target you more than once. They may claim to be with a government agency, law firm or another organization and tell you they can help you recover your funds for an upfront fee. Always verify their identity and never pay upfront.

The Bottom Line

The best way to protect yourself from falling victim to a call spoofing scam is to ignore calls from numbers you don't recognize. And as a general rule, never give out personal information to a caller you didn't contact first. Also, trust your instincts when speaking with someone asking for money or sensitive information, and hang up if something feels off.

One way to help protect your identity and guard against fraud is by signing up for free credit monitoring with Experian. You'll receive alerts whenever there are changes to your credit report so you can respond early to potential identity theft or fraud.