How do scammers get my phone number?

Where scammers can find your number

• Data breaches. When a company is hacked, the stolen files can include phone numbers. In August 2021, T-Mobile said a cyberattack exposed phone numbers from millions of current customer accounts.
• People-search sites and data brokers. They list phone numbers with names and addresses. California's privacy agency says data brokers may sell to scammers.
• Auto dialers. The FTC says auto dialers can send out thousands of calls every minute, for very little money. Federal law describes dialing equipment that can produce numbers to call with a random or sequential number generator.
• Forms, apps and sign-ups. The FTC says that when you use a phone, answer a survey for a coupon or enter a sweepstakes, the companies involved in many cases sell or pass what they collect to data brokers.
• Public posts and directories. The FTC found more than half of the data brokers it studied collect what people post online, including on social media, and phone directories.

Tricks to watch for

• Fake caller ID. The FTC says caller ID is easy to fake, so a call can look like it's from a government office.
• Numbers that look local. The FTC says scammers often match the first six digits of your own number, so the call looks like it's from nearby.
• Asking for a code. The FTC says no caller, especially one from your bank's fraud department, will ever ask for your verification code.
• A voice that sounds like family. The FBI says criminals make short audio clips of a loved one's voice and ask for money in a crisis.

What helps

1. 1

   Opt out of the people-search sites that list your number. Our guides have each site's own steps: People-search opt-out guides

2. 2

   Pick a family safe word together, in person or on a call you start. The FBI says to create a secret word or phrase with your family to verify their identity. How to set one up: Pick a family safe word

3. 3

   Never read a code to a caller. The FTC says a caller who asks for your verification code is always a scam.

4. 4

   If a call is about money, hang up. Call back on a number you already trust, like the one on your statement.

5. 5

   On a robocall, don't press any number. The FTC says pressing numbers will probably only lead to more robocalls.

6. 6

   Turn on the spam filters your carrier and your phone offer: How to stop spam calls and texts

Can I find out where a scammer got my number?

Usually not. In its 2014 study, the FTC found the nine data brokers it looked at got most of their data from other data brokers, and said it would be virtually impossible for you to work out how a broker got yours.

Does the Do Not Call Registry stop scammers?

No. The FTC says being on the Registry won't stop scammers from making illegal calls. It should cut sales calls from real companies, which makes scam calls easier to spot.

What if I already shared a code or sent money?

Call your bank or the company right away, on a number you trust. Then report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.