Get an unknown call? Type the phone number into Google, Bing or Yahoo in quotation marks for a precise match. Results often include websites, forums or consumer complaint boards where that number may have been reported. While you’re at it, file a report at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Tech trick: How to tell who's calling when you don't recognize the phone number
Ever received a text message from a number you don’t recognize? I get a lot of texts from numbers that I have no idea who that person is. Instead of replying with “Ahem, who dis?” there’s a hack you’re going to use time and time again.
If you get a text from an unknown number, mobile payment apps like Venmo, CashApp, Zelle or PayPal can help you put a name to that number.
Copy and paste the number into the app and the mystery sender’s name might just be unveiled.
I tested this on a phone number belonging to someone I knew had a Venmo account. Their name popped right up.
FYI, this hack only works if you have an account with one of those mobile payment apps. The sender also has to use their real name and number in the app. But hey, it’s better than shooting in the dark.
There’s the flip side: Be sure to disable your mobile payment app from sharing your name and phone number with other people. The steps vary per app. In Venmo, open Settings, Friends and Social and toggle off Phone contacts.
What about blocked numbers?
Dialing *67 conceals your number from someone you call. There are similar numbers you can dial to respond to mystery callers.
The first is *69, which traces the number of the last person who called you. It works even for anonymous or hidden calls, so you can get the phone number and exact time they called. Once you have that number, you can block it on your phone so they can’t call you anymore.
There are more codes and secrets you can use to hunt down who called. Tap or click here to check them out.
💀 My favorite way to answer spam calls? “Maricopa County morgue, you kill ’em, we chill ’em.” I’m terrible ….
Privacy: Is it wise to hand over your email and number for discounts?
It’s a savvy shopper’s favorite time of year: Discounts and deals as far as the eye can see.
You’re probably like me — I don’t like paying full price. But is handing over your email address, phone number or even more worth it for a coupon code? Like most things tech, it depends.
How I got my cell phone number off the internet
We talk to Darius from Incogni, who tells us how you can remove your personal data from the internet. Plus, a family claims an Amazon driver stole their cat, people are yelling a lot at Siri, and there’s a new sober dating app.
Scammers in the skies: Crooks scan social for posts complaining about flight delays and then pose as airline customer service. They’ll DM you about your booking or send you to a fake site to harvest your info. Only contact customer service using the airline’s official website or phone number.
What’s the most expensive phone number ever sold? Is it … A.) 222-2222, B.) 555-5555, C.) 666-6666 or D.) 8888-8888?
Simple trick to know who’s calling without picking up your phone
I’m psychic. I know who’s calling me without even looking at my phone. I’m just kidding. If I really were psychic, I’d know all the winning lottery numbers and be living on a private island in the Maldives.
The trick is to give each of your contacts a custom vibration. This way, you know from the discrete buzzes if this is a call you can’t miss or should ignore. Think of it as the quiet version of custom ringtones since so many of us keep our phones silenced these days.
Don't be a victim: Leaving your phone's Bluetooth on is a major security risk
Keeping yourself safe from creeps and hackers is a big job, but certain habits make it easier.
Here’s a simple one: Stop giving your phone number to every place that asks for it. Read this tip about the best ways to hide your phone number and email address for help.
Have a Yelp page? Businesses that include their hours, phone number, website and a photo on Yelp get 7.6 times more pageviews per month. Dang. Log in and make sure yours is up to date!
Treble maker: The scam starts with an email about a family death and a free piano. Wait, a piano? Yep. If you reply, they hook you up with a fake shipping company that needs your name, address and phone number. Then — oh! — you need to pay for shipping. That’s when the scammer disappears. Don’t fall for it.
SIM swapping, explained
Can’t make a call? Here’s why scammers may be stealing your phone number.
Secret Agent Man (or Woman): Keep your phone number hidden all the time with a quick change in its settings. On an iPhone, tap Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID. Toggle it off. On Android, the option is called Hide Number. Don’t be surprised if no one answers, OK?
Give this phone number to creeps
Here’s a slick way to share your digits without spilling too much about yourself.
Double-edged deal: The Telegram app is offering free premium subscriptions when you send 150 two-factor authentication texts on its behalf. Why? Because it’s expensive to do it themselves. The catch: Everyone you send a 2FA text to gets your real phone number. Just pay the $5 for Premium, folks.
What’s the most expensive phone number ever sold: A.) 222-2222, B.) 555-5555, C.) 666-6666 or D.) 8888-8888?
How to hide your phone number from marketers
Getting a bunch of spammy calls and texts? I’ve got a trick to put that to rest, in one minute.
You might be breaking the law online and not even know it
If you’ve ever uploaded a video to YouTube, you know how fast it will be flagged if there’s even a hint of a copyrighted song playing in the background.
If you’re shaking your head, you’re not alone. There are many things you shouldn’t do online. Some are just plain dangerous. Tap or click for five silly mistakes putting your online privacy and security at risk.
Stop sharing your real phone number with everyone
How many people and companies have your phone number if you had to guess? Maybe a hundred? Think again.
Want to be shocked? Your cellphone and landline number (if you still have one) are probably posted online where I found mine — at a people search site that doesn’t cost a dime. Tap or click here for sites that let you search for phone numbers.
Read this before you try to score a deal on Facebook Marketplace
Some social media platforms have made it easy for you to buy stuff from other members. Facebook Marketplace is one of the most popular. The problem is it’s littered with scammers.
Read on for five scams you must know about before buying anything on Facebook Marketplace.
The one word you should never say to a telemarketer or scam caller
You might get dozens of spam calls weekly, but you might not know where the companies got your number. Thousands of data brokers peddle information, and it could be the source of your annoyance. That’s why we started our Opt-Out Tuesday series with instructions on removing data from sites like FreePhoneTracer. Tap or click here for details.