Caller ID spoofing: why the number on your screen may be fake
How scammers fake caller ID, why innocent people's numbers get reported, and how to protect yourself.
What spoofing is
Caller ID spoofing is when a caller deliberately falsifies the number shown on your phone. Internet calling systems make it easy to display almost any number.
Neighbor spoofing
Many robocallers show a number with your own area code and first three digits so the call looks local. The real owner of that number usually has no idea.
Why this matters for lookups
When you report a spoofed call, the complaint lists the displayed number — not the real caller. That's why complaint records alone never prove who made a call.
What to do
Don't trust caller ID alone. If a caller claims to be your bank or a government agency, hang up and call the number printed on your card or the agency's official website.
Report unwanted calls to the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints and to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.