Why do random numbers call me?

If you receive calls from random phone numbers or calls that ring only once and hang up, then your number is probably on a scammer’s hit list.

Read on to learn why random numbers call you, why you should not answer calls from random numbers, what to do if you receive a scam call, and how to reduce the number of scam calls in a lasting way.

Dorota Martin

Why do random numbers call you? In short:

The reason you receive so many calls from random numbers is that your phone number is widely accessible. It’s highly likely that your personal information has been exposed in a data breach. Even if it hasn’t, your number is listed on data broker sites and people search websites. Scammers and telemarketing companies use automated systems to dial random or sequentially generated phone numbers to promote their products or services.

That’s it really. But there is a lot you can do to stop this.

1) Remove your phone number from the internet

Scammers, spammers, and telemarketers call you in part because it’s easy for them to find your phone number online. Even if you didn’t leave it on social media sites when creating your profile, it’ll pop-up next to your name on people search sites. 

One of the best ways to lower the volume of spam, scams, and robocalls heading your way is to remove your personal information from the internet. Start by opting out from data brokers. You can do this on your own, but given the number of people search sites and data brokers that hold your data, it’ll take a massive chunk of your time. 

You can also let others do it for you. A data removal service like Incogni will send removal requests to the +175 data brokers it covers and will continue doing so on a regular basis to keep your record clean.

2) Use throwaway, single-use phone numbers

Another great practice is to use temporary phone numbers when signing up for accounts online. A phone number is usually required whenever you create an account online. A throwaway number is a great way to receive a verification code, as that’s usually all you need to use it for. You can discard it afterward to avoid getting spam calls. 

The same can be done with your email address. Click through for a recap of the best disposable email services. 

3) Take the necessary steps to stop spam calls

We wrote several guides on stopping spam calls. Here is an overview:

4) Report scam and spam calls 

Don’t let fraudsters get away with scam calls, even if they are “just” a nuisance. You can report unwanted calls to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) registry. Go to https://www.donotcall.gov/ and select “report unwanted calls.”

If a phone call caused you to lose money, go directly to https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/ to report fraud. 

If you receive a threatening or harassing call on a landline, dial *58 immediately afterward to trace the call. Your phone service provider will try to trace the number. You’ll then need to report the incident to the police—the phone service provider will disclose the caller ID to them.

Should you answer random calls?

It’s best not to answer calls from random numbers. By random, we mean numbers that neither you nor your phone recognize. These are either “no caller ID calls,” unknown callers, private numbers, restricted numbers, or numbers not in your contact list.

And if you do, don’t speak first

Don’t speak. If you decide to pick up a random call, do not say anything; listen and wait for them to talk first. Some scammers record the conversation and try to gather additional information about you this way. In extreme cases, scam callers could clone your voice to commit further fraud. If you answer with “yes,” they may argue you gave consent for them to act on your behalf, or agreed to something you didn’t mean to. Once you realize you answered a spam or scam call, hang up without saying anything, and don’t worry about being impolite. 

What are the risks of picking up from random numbers?

Yes, it could be a recruiter with a job offer or an old friend, but sadly, in the majority of cases, you’re exposing yourself to one of the following:

• A potential scam: An attempt to scam you out of money.
• Spam calls: Where callers try to sell you something you neither need nor want.
• Robocalls: Pre-recorded spam or scam messages.
• Identity theft: Scammers may use random calls to gather personal information that can be used for identity theft.
• Potential financial loss: Including unauthorized charges on your accounts.
• Social engineering attacks: Scammers may manipulate you into disclosing sensitive information or performing actions against your best interest.
• And last but not least: Stress, anxiety, and wasted time.

Which techniques do scammers use to contact you?

The annual Federal Trade Commission’s Data Book for 2023 revealed that a record-breaking $10 billion had been lost to scams in 2023. The financial toll increased by $1 billion year-on-year despite the number of reports not changing. 

In other words, scammers are getting more sophisticated and managing to get away with fraud more often. How do they do it? Here are some of the most common methods they use.

The call is from your own number: Another type of caller ID spoofing leads to the incoming call looking like it’s come from your own number. Also called mirroring, the goal is to surprise you and make you curious about who’s behind the call.

Private numbers, restricted numbers or “no caller ID”: scammers still use this method to conceal their identity, making it harder to trace or block the call.

Spoof their number to appear as one from your contact list: scammers can steal your contact lists by, for example, breaching an application with access to it. Or, if they have the means, they can buy this data on the dark web. Once in possession of a list of numbers the target will recognize, it’s easy for scammers to make the victim pick up their phone.

One-ring calls: scammers use this technique to make you call them back. The phone rings once and the number (often spoofed to hide an international number) is registered by your phone.  

Neighbor spoofing: area code or neighbor spoofing is a method widely used by scammers to gain trust. The number appears to come from the same area code where the victim lives, pretending to be a local business. To learn more about area code spoofing, read our research article, in which we demonstrate that the majority of spam and scam numbers appear to originate from your county or state.

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