Caller ID Spoofing: How to Stop Calls From Fake Numbers (FTC Video Guide)
A call shows your bank’s name, a local area code, or even a number that looks like yours. That does not mean it is real. Scammers can fake the name and number that appear on caller ID. This short FTC video explains spoofing and what you can do. Our guide adds a simple rule for checking any caller.
From the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) · Part of our Online Safety Video Library
What the video shows
The video explains that it can be hard to tell whether a call is from someone you know, because scammers use technology to fake caller ID. Even a local-looking number could come from anywhere in the world.
It recommends blocking calls with mobile apps, internet phone services, or call-blocking devices for home phones, and asking your carrier for recommendations. It also explains that the FTC shares reported numbers with companies working to block unwanted calls.
Key takeaways
- Caller ID can show any name or number a scammer chooses, including real businesses and government agencies.
- A local number, or one that looks like a neighbor’s, is a common trick to make you answer.
- Never trust a call just because the caller ID looks right.
- Hanging up and calling back on a number you trust is the surest way to check.
- Reporting spoofed calls helps carriers and the FTC block them.
The call-back rule
Use this whenever a caller says they’re from your bank, a company you use, or a government agency:
- Do not give any information or make any payment during the call.
- Hang up.
- Find the real number yourself: on the back of your card, a statement, or the organization’s official website.
- Call that number and ask whether they contacted you.
- If it was a scam, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov with the number shown on caller ID.
Blocking options for home and mobile phones
- Mobile phones: turn on your phone’s spam filtering and your carrier’s free call protection, or try a call-blocking app.
- Internet-based home phones: ask your provider about built-in blocking services.
- Traditional landlines: a call-blocking device can screen calls before the phone rings.
Common questions
A call showed my own phone number. How is that possible?
It’s spoofing. Scammers sometimes use your own number to make you curious enough to answer. Let it go to voicemail.
Can I tell the difference between a spoofed and a real call?
Not reliably. That’s why the call-back rule matters more than what caller ID shows.
Someone is using my number to call other people. What can I do?
Your number has been spoofed. Most people who get those calls will recognize spam. You can record a voicemail greeting explaining that your number is being spoofed and that you didn’t call.
Related guides
- How to Stop Unwanted Calls on Your Mobile Phone (Video Guide)
- Stop Scam Calls on a Parent’s Phone
- Impersonation Scams: How to Spot Them
- Hang Up on Social Security Scam Calls (Video Guide)
About this video
This video was produced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a U.S. government agency, and plays from the agency’s own channel. Juggling Chaos wrote this summary and guide; we are not affiliated with or endorsed by the agency. Some details on screen, such as phone models or web addresses, may look dated, but the advice still applies. Checked October 7, 2026.
Learn more at the FTC’s How to Block Unwanted Calls page.
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