Beware of phone ‘spoofing’ Published Jan. 31, 2014 By Mike W. Ray Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- According to the dictionary, to "spoof" something or someone is to make good-natured fun of it. But telephone "spoofing" isn't funny. In fact, it's a crime. It seems that some unscrupulous individuals and/or telemarketers hijack a person's information to make outbound sales calls in the victim's name and displaying the victim's telephone number. Unfortunately, Caller ID is susceptible to fraud. A deceitful, skillful caller can deliberately falsify the telephone number and/or the name that's displayed in the Caller ID information, to disguise his or her identity. According to the Federal Communications Commission, identity thieves who want to collect sensitive information -- such as your bank account or other financial account numbers, your Social Security number, your password, your date of birth or your mother's maiden name -- sometimes use Caller ID spoofing to make it appear as though they are calling from your bank, credit-card company, favorite retailer, or even a government agency. The Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009, signed into law in late 2010, forbids Caller ID spoofing for purposes of defrauding or otherwise causing harm. The FCC advises consumers to refrain from revealing personal information in response to an incoming phone call. Also, if you receive an inquiry from a company or government agency seeking personal information, don't provide it. Instead, hang up and call the phone number on your account statement, in the telephone directory, or on the company's or government agency's website to determine whether the entity that supposedly called you actually needs the information that was requested from you. Debbie Tapparo of the 72nd Air Base Wing's Communications Directorate said they have received less than a handful of complaints about telephone spoofing, but noted that the problem is nationwide. Ms. Tapparo advises anyone who falls victim to a phone spoof to contact the FCC at 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322), or file a complaint at www.fcc.gov/complaints. There is no charge for lodging a complaint.