How to stop number spoofing

If you’re receiving angry phone calls from people you’ve never spoken to, your number has probably been spoofed.

What can you do to stop that?

Long story short—not much. 

However, there are steps you can take to minimize the negative impact.

And we’re about to show you how.

Let’s dive in.

What can I do if my phone number is being spoofed?

Scammers can hijack your cell phone number to scam-call people in your area.

It doesn’t mean they have access to your phone—spoofing is more like impersonating your caller ID.  

So, why can’t we stop number spoofing?

In brief, we don’t have the tools.

The mobile network in use today is much less advanced than you might think.

Much of the infrastructure was designed at a time when security wasn’t a top priority.

Today, scammers are exploiting those security gaps—and spoofing is just one of their methods.

However, there is a ray of hope.

You can effectively mitigate the negative consequences of number spoofing.

Here’s what you can do: 

1. Wait for the scammers to stop spoofing your number

Just wait.

Although it doesn’t seem like a valid solution, waiting may actually be your best option.

Here’s why—

According to the Federal Communications Commission, phone spoofing typically lasts only a few hours before scammers move on to another number.

Afterward, the issue will likely blow over.

In the meantime, however, you might get some unwanted calls or texts in response—see points 2 and 3, below, for how to handle this.

2. Record a new voicemail message explaining your number is spoofed

Spoofing often leads to receiving unwanted calls from people who were tricked into thinking you called them first.

You could answer these calls and explain the situation—but that’s not recommended and may be a headache.

Alternatively, you can ignore them—but be aware that some individuals might continue to call back or could report your number as a scam.

Instead—

Consider setting up a specific voicemail, letting callers know your number has been spoofed.

This approach informs callers of the situation without you having to answer.

Below is a simple script you can use:

Hi, you’ve reached [Your First Name or Nickname].  If you received a suspicious call from this number, please know that my number was spoofed, and it wasn’t me.  Apologies for the inconvenience. Leave a message if needed.  Thank you.

However, that won’t manage the fallout entirely—you’ll still see and hear all the incoming calls.

Read on to learn how to get your peace of mind back.

3. Silence or block unknown numbers

Scammers can contact hundreds of people using your phone number.

And when they call you back, it can become quite the inconvenience.

Here’s what you can do—

After recording a new voicemail, consider turning on the feature of “silencing” or “blocking” unknown numbers while your phone number is being spoofed.

That way, you won’t even be aware of attempted calls.

How to silence unknown callers on an iPhone:

1. Go to the settings.
2. Scroll down and tap “phone.”
3. Scroll down and tap “silence unknown callers.”
4. Toggle “silence unknown callers” on.

How to block unknown callers on Android:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Access the app menu (typically indicated by three vertical dots in the screen’s upper-right corner).
3. Search for an option labeled “settings,” “blocked,” or something similar.
4. Locate “block rules” or a similar setting.
5. Turn on the feature to block “unknown” numbers (exact terminology can differ by manufacturer).

However, turning these settings on will silence all calls from unknown numbers, including those from legitimate callers.

This might not always be ideal.

Remember to turn off this feature after the spoofing ends (give it a day or two)—especially if you regularly take calls from people who aren’t on your contacts list.

4. Check your accounts for identity theft

Most spoofed calls are just spam calls made using your number.

It may be a pain in the neck but is typically harmless in the long term.

Yet, some scammers may use your number to steal your identity—and that is far from harmless.

It’s wise to verify, then.

Review your Social Security number, bank and credit accounts, check your email inbox for any unusual activity, inspect your bills, and similar.

We’ve put together a guide on how to check if someone is using your Social Security number. You can find more information on identity theft prevention methods there.

It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

5. Take action to stop phone number spoofing in the future

Let’s begin with a bitter pill to swallow.

No number is immune to caller ID spoofing.

You’re just as vulnerable as luxurious brands or even governmental institutions are.

There’s no app or service to block someone from spoofing your number.

However, you’re not completely powerless.

For the spoofing to happen, scammers need to acquire your number first.

Some generate the numbers randomly, but others collect them from the internet or data brokers.

And you can effectively combat those.

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