An unexpected call doesn't require an answer. Let it go to voicemail or use call screening. Don't press a key in an unsolicited recording, call back the number shown, or share information before verifying who contacted you. A local area code, caller ID, company name, or "verified" label is only a clue, not proof of identity.

If you answered, hang up and block the number. Simply answering or saying hello doesn't give the caller access to your phone or bank account. The risk changes if you shared a password or one-time code, granted remote access, or sent money; those situations require account or payment follow-up.

The 10 spam call mistakes to avoid

1. Answering an unknown number because it looks local

A local area code can make a call seem familiar, but scammers can manipulate caller ID. Answering once doesn't give a caller access to your phone or bank account. It does remove voicemail as your first layer of screening and gives the caller a chance to start a conversation.

Let unfamiliar calls go to voicemail. If your phone offers call screening, turn it on. A genuine caller can usually identify themselves and explain why they're calling. If the call might be important, return it through a number saved in your contacts or listed on the organization's official website.

2. Staying on the line to challenge the caller

You don't need to prove that someone is a scammer. Arguing, answering survey questions, or trying to expose the caller gives that person more time to pressure you and collect details.

End the call without confirming your name, address, account information, or other facts. A brief "hello" alone isn't proof that your identity has been stolen or that a charge was authorized. The practical concern is what you do after answering, so stop the conversation before the caller gets you to confirm information or make a payment.

3. Pressing a button in a robocall

A recorded message may say:

• "Press 1 to speak with an agent."
• "Press 2 to remove your number."
• "Press 9 to confirm your account."

Don't press any key. The FTC's robocall guidance warns that responding to a recorded call may lead to more robocalls. Hang up instead of following the menu or trying to be removed from the list.

4. Calling back the number in the message

A callback doesn't verify the caller. The number may be spoofed, and the callback could reach the same scam operation, another person using the displayed number, or a recorded sales pitch.

Don't call the number shown on caller ID or the callback number in a voicemail. Open the organization's official app, use a number printed on a bank card, or type the company's web address yourself. Don't rely on a search ad or a number supplied by the caller.

5. Sharing personal or account information

An unsolicited caller isn't a trusted place to confirm sensitive information, even if the person knows your name or part of your address. Don't provide:

• Social Security numbers
• Passwords and PINs
• Debit or credit card numbers and security codes
• Bank account information
• One-time verification codes
• Answers to security questions

A one-time code can be used to approve a sign-in or account action. If someone calling "from your bank" asks you to read one out, end the call and contact the bank through a trusted channel. A professional voice, familiar brand name, or partial personal information doesn't make the request safe.

6. Trusting caller ID, a familiar company name, or a "verified" label

Caller ID can be spoofed to display a bank, government agency, local business, or a number that looks like your own. The FTC says telemarketers and scammers can change caller ID information easily.

Carrier authentication and spam labels can help sort calls, but they don't prove that the caller is honest or that a request is safe. A call marked "verified" can still involve a deceptive offer, and an unlabeled call isn't automatically legitimate.

Use caller ID as a clue, not as identification. Verify the request through a trusted number, official app, statement, or account portal.

7. Ignoring pressure, threats, or secrecy demands

Urgency is a warning sign, especially when the caller says you must act immediately to:

• Avoid arrest or legal action
• Prevent a utility shutoff
• Protect money from a supposed hacker
• Claim a prize before it expires
• Pay a debt with a gift card, cryptocurrency, or wire
• Keep a refund, investment, or discount secret

A real bill or account notice can be checked independently. End the call, take time to think, and contact the organization through an official channel. Don't let a caller dictate when you make a financial decision.

8. Assuming the Do Not Call Registry blocks scam calls

The National Do Not Call Registry is designed to reduce calls from covered telemarketers. It isn't a scam detector, and criminals don't need to follow the registry.

Registering your number can still be useful, but it won't stop every robocall or prevent caller ID spoofing. Don't treat a call as legitimate because your number is registered. Also, don't give information to someone who claims to be enrolling you or removing you from the list.

Use the registry alongside voicemail, carrier controls, phone settings, and independent verification.

9. Falling for a familiar scam category

Scammers reuse scripts because a recognizable problem can trigger an automatic reaction. Common examples include:

• Tax or government calls: The caller demands immediate payment or threatens arrest.
• Bank fraud alerts: The caller asks for a one-time code or tells you to move money to a "safe" account.
• Tech support: A caller claims your device is infected and asks for remote access.
• Utility or delivery calls: The caller demands payment or personal information to prevent a shutoff or release a package.
• Investment and giveaway calls: The caller promises guaranteed returns or asks for a fee to receive a prize.

The category doesn't make the call genuine. Check the claim in your account or through the agency's official website. Don't use links, phone numbers, or instructions supplied during the call.

10. Skipping blocking, reporting, or payment follow-up

Blocking one number won't stop every scam because numbers can change or be spoofed. It can still reduce repeat interruptions and make suspicious calls easier to recognize.

The FTC's guide to blocking unwanted calls covers cell phones, home phones, call-labeling services, and blocking apps. Report unwanted or illegal calls to the FTC. Include the displayed number, any callback number, date, time, and the wording of the message. If you sent money, contact the payment provider immediately as well; a report alone won't start a cancellation or dispute request.

What to do when a suspicious call comes in

Use this order once you decide the call isn't trustworthy:

1. Stop interacting. Don't press a key, answer more questions, or open a link sent during the call.
2. Hang up. You don't need the caller's permission to end the conversation.
3. Don't call back. Find contact information independently.
4. Verify the claim. Check the official app, statement, account portal, or website.
5. Save evidence. Note the number, date, time, voicemail, requested payment, and information you disclosed.
6. Block and report. Use your phone or carrier's spam controls, then report the call if appropriate.

For a caller claiming to represent your bank, use the number on the back of your card. For a government agency or business, navigate to its official website yourself rather than using a link or number from the call.

Call screening and blocking options

Your phone and carrier can reduce exposure, but no tool identifies every scam correctly.

• Voicemail: This is the simplest filter. Save important contacts so their calls are less likely to be treated as unknown.
• Built-in phone controls: iPhone settings can screen unknown callers, silence them, and filter calls identified as spam or fraud. Apple's call-screening and blocking instructions explain the available choices. Menus vary by iOS version.
• Android controls: Features and names differ by device and carrier. Look in the Phone app for spam protection, caller ID, call screening, or blocked numbers.
• Carrier labeling: Labels such as "Spam" or "Scam likely" can help you decide whether to answer. They're warnings, not guarantees.
• Third-party apps: These may filter more calls, but review their privacy permissions, subscription terms, and false-positive settings before installing one.
• STIR/SHAKEN authentication: This can help carriers assess whether caller ID information was signed on part of the phone network. It doesn't verify the caller's intentions and won't authenticate every call.

Silencing unknown callers can also silence a legitimate first-time caller, such as a doctor, school, or delivery driver. Check voicemail and missed-call notifications regularly if you use that setting.

What the Do Not Call Registry does - and doesn't do

The registry, call-blocking tools, caller ID labels, and payment support address different problems:

• Do Not Call registration: Helps limit certain telemarketing calls.
• Call blocking: Filters numbers or call patterns before they disturb you.
• Caller ID labeling: Shows a warning based on carrier or app analysis.
• Independent verification: Helps determine whether a specific request is genuine.
• Payment-provider support: Handles possible cancellation, recall, or dispute steps after money is sent.

The registry doesn't confirm a caller's identity, stop criminals from calling, or reverse a payment. Keep your registration active if you want fewer covered telemarketing calls, but treat every unexpected financial request as unverified.

What to do if you shared information or paid

Act quickly. The FTC's guidance on what to do if you were scammed says recovery steps depend on how you paid and that the money may already be gone.

1. End contact with the caller. Don't pay an additional fee to someone who promises to recover your money.
2. Contact the payment provider immediately. Tell the bank, credit card issuer, payment app, or transfer service that you were tricked or that the transaction was unauthorized. Ask what cancellation, recall, or dispute process applies. Don't assume a reversal is guaranteed.
3. Use the payment-specific route.
   • For a debit card, contact your bank or credit union immediately and follow up on any claim they open.
   • For a gift card, contact the card issuer immediately and keep the card and purchase receipt.
   • For cryptocurrency, contact the exchange or service you used as soon as possible.
   • For a wire or payment-app transfer, contact the provider's fraud team and ask whether any recall or dispute option remains.
4. Secure exposed accounts. Change passwords through the official website or app, starting with email and financial accounts. If you shared a one-time code, tell the account provider exactly what happened.
5. Address remote access. Disconnect the affected device from the internet if an unknown person controlled it. Remove unauthorized software, update the device, and change passwords from a different, trusted device.
6. Preserve and report evidence. Keep voicemails, screenshots, receipts, transaction records, wallet addresses, and the caller's instructions. Report the scam to the FTC.

If you only answered and didn't share information, grant access, or send money, hang up, block the number, and monitor relevant accounts for unusual activity. Don't continue communicating just to ask what the caller wanted.

Frequently asked questions

Is it dangerous to say "hello" to a spam caller?

Saying hello alone doesn't give the caller access to your accounts or prove that a charge was authorized. End the call, don't provide details, and use blocking and screening tools. Take additional recovery steps if you shared information, granted access, or paid.

Should I press a number to be removed from a robocall list?

No. The FTC warns that responding to a recorded message may result in more robocalls. Hang up and report the call instead.

Can I trust a call from my bank's displayed number?

No. Caller ID can be spoofed. Hang up and call the number on your bank card or use the bank's official app.

Does registering with Do Not Call stop robocalls?

No. It can reduce some covered telemarketing calls, but scammers can ignore the registry. Use it with voicemail, call screening, blocking, and independent verification.

What information should I save before reporting a scam call?

Record the displayed number, any number the caller gave you, the date and time, the caller's claimed identity, the requested action, payment details, and any voicemail or text message. Keep receipts and transaction records if money was sent.