Do you spend valuable seconds glancing over at your phone only to be met by an incoming call from a number you don’t recognize? You are not alone, says the Eureka Police Department in the press release below: 

 

The Eureka Police Department has received an increased number of complaints regarding scam calls to cell phones and land lines. It appears scammers are using spoofing techniques to make it appear a local number is calling, often tricking people into actually answering.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), “Current technology makes it easy for scammers to fake or “spoof” caller ID information, so the number you reported in your complaint probably isn’t real. Without more information, it’s difficult for the FTC and other law enforcement agencies to identify the actual caller.”

While scam calls are very annoying, there is little that can be done on a local level. Here is what you can do and where you can report unwanted calls:

  • Make sure to sign up all of your phone numbers with the FTC Do Not Call Registry. It can take up to 31 days for your registration to become active.
  • Report unwanted calls to the FTC. 
  • If the call is specific to owing the IRS, make your report to the Treasury Inspector General.
  • This article provides numerous tips and ways to prevent unwanted scam calls.