How do you prevent robot phone calls?
- Q and A
- Edited 1 June 2023
- 1 min
- Managing and growing
- Secure business
The Fraud Help Desk receives thousands of reports of suspicious phone calls every year. In October 2024, there were already 656 reports of these robocalls. If you pick up, you hear an automated message and a choice menu, often in an English-speaking robot voice. For example, you urgently need to pay an outstanding fine, or confirm a refund. If you make a choice, you get a scammer on the line. They want to steal your money or data. How do you deal with robocalls?
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Disconnect and block
Unfortunately, preventing robocalls is impossible. Only when you answer will you know it is a robocall. Immediately disconnect the call. Never engage in conversation with the scammers. That way you will not be in danger.
Simply not answering unknown or foreign numbers is not helpful. It could be a new customer. Should you block the phone number if it was a robocall? Yes, but check what the number is first. Scammers can use spoofing to call a number known to you. It looks like your bank is calling, for example. If you block this number, your bank will no longer be able to call you.
Other things you can do
Besides hanging up immediately and blocking the number, here are three more tips:
- Do you have a missed call from an unknown number from abroad? Do not call back. It could be a scammer trying to get you to call an expensive phone line.
- Never give out login information or other personal information over the phone. Never transfer money or install software.
- Still fell for the scammer's story and transferred money, for example? Contact the Fraud . They will help you with tips and put you in touch with organizations that can help you further. Always  fraud to the police.
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Do you have a cyber question? Send it to kvk.cyber@kvk.nl.