Local residents have reported receiving calls from phone numbers appearing to be from Grand View Health, but when the call is answered the message is unrelated to services Grand View Health provides. This tactic is called “caller ID spoofing.”
What is caller ID spoofing?
Caller ID spoofing displays a phone number on the recipient’s phone as a different number than where the text or call was physically made from. Caller ID is not associated with the actual phone number but is part of the initial call setup, which allows the caller to manipulate the Caller ID to display a different number from the number that is calling.
If you receive a call from a spoofed phone number claiming to be from Grand View Health, it does not mean that our systems have been hacked. Spoofing is accomplished though web-based software.
Is phone spoofing dangerous?
Phone scammers use spoofing to try to obtain personal information from consumers, such as their date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, passwords, credit cards or other personal information that can be used to steal their identity and commit fraud.
How to stop phone spoofing?
Unfortunately, you may not be able to tell right away whether the number displayed on your caller ID is a spoofed number — so always be suspicious of unexpected calls. Grand View Health has no way to block or stop these calls. However, Grand View Health has reported spoofing attempts to the Federal Trade Commission.
The Federal Trade Commission has posted these tips to help consumers protect themselves if they receive a spoofing phone call:
- Hang up the phone. Never release your personal or financial information over the phone if you are not certain of the caller’s identity.
- Don’t give out your personal information. Ask callers for their name, department and a phone number where you can call them back. Phony callers are unlikely to have this information, but if they do, do not use any number they give you. Instead, use a number that you already know, or look up the contact information for that specific department or office and call them back using that number.
- Note the number of the caller. Keep the number for your records, if possible. Even if it is a spoofed phone number, it may help authorities in pursuing the scammers.
- Submit a complaint to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.
- Alert the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. You can contact the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or spoof@oig.hhs.gov.
- File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) here or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP. Sign up for scam alerts from the FTC here.
- File a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and learn more about spoofing and Caller ID.
- Seek advice on what to do from the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline. You do not have to be a member of AARP to use this service. The helpline can be reached at 1-877-908-3360.
Share what you’ve learned with your loved ones and those you know.
If you receive a call from Grand View Health that sounds suspicious or you suspect may be fraudulent, hang up. Call the department the caller says they are representing by contacting Grand View Health’s main phone number at 215-453-4000 and ask to be connected to the department.