It's likely you're experiencing a phone spoofing situation. This means someone is using technology to make their phone number appear as yours when they call others.
Here's why this might be happening:
- Spam calls: Scammers often use spoofed numbers to trick people into answering calls, hoping to sell them unwanted products or services.
- Telemarketing: Legitimate companies might also use spoofed numbers to reach potential customers.
- Robocalls: Automated systems can be used to deliver pre-recorded messages, often for political campaigns or promotions.
- Harassment: Unfortunately, some people use spoofed numbers to harass others.
What can you do?
- Don't answer the call: If you don't recognize the number, let it go to voicemail.
- Report the number: You can report the number to your phone carrier, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), or the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
- Block the number: Most smartphones have a built-in feature to block specific numbers from calling you.
Note: It's important to remember that you can't stop someone from spoofing your number entirely. However, by taking these steps, you can minimize the number of unwanted calls you receive.
