Scammers can now cloak or fake the originating telephone number. It may seem like it is a neighbor or even someone a consumer may know. Often they are calling to demand payment on behalf of a student loan, the IRS, the State or County and demanding money via gift card or wire. If you receive a call and you suspect caller ID information has been falsified, or you think the rules for protecting the privacy of your telephone number have been violated, you can file a complaint with the FCC.

"Spoofing" occurs when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity. Spoofing is often used as part of an attempt to trick someone into giving away valuable personal information so it can be used in fraudulent activity or sold illegally.