In 2024, phone calls were the second most commonly reported method of fraud, just behind emails. Even more concerning, phone scams led to a median loss of $1,500 per victim, making them the costliest scam tactic of the year. To protect yourself, it’s time to master the art of call screening. Start by avoiding calls from unfamiliar numbers and never share your personal information or send money to someone you don’t know over the phone.
How many spam calls did you get last month? If you're like most people, probably more than you'd like.
In 2024, the Harris Poll found that adults between 18 and 65+ received anywhere from 17 to 36 spam calls a month. One company, Global Circulation, Inc., took advantage of this flood of calls. Between 2021 and 2025, they scammed people out of $4.5 million by calling them up and pressuring them to pay off debts they didn’t actually owe.
If you’re thinking, “that would never happen to me,” you’re not alone—but it’s worth noting that in 2024, more than 56 million Americans were impacted by scam calls, and they can be especially damaging.
Phone scams result in the highest per-person losses of any scam type, according to the FTC. (The Harris Poll reported an average loss of $452, while the FTC cited a median loss of $1,500.)
No matter the amount, handing over your money or personal information to a scammer is something no one wants to experience.
Common scams carried out via phone calls
Imposter scams tend to be the most common type of phone scam. In this type of ruse, the caller pretends to be someone they are not to trick you into handing over your information, funds, or both.
These callers may disguise themselves as any number of people, including:
Debt collectors (debt relief agents, bad credit counselors, hospital bill collectors)
Law enforcement officials (police, attorneys general, immigration officials)
Financial representatives (bankers, credit card company reps, mortgage brokers)
Utility company representatives (water, power, and gas company spokespeople)
College and university representatives (loan officers, alumni fundraisers)
Investors (potential business partners)
Charity representatives (fundraisers)
Prize givers (timeshare agents, trip administrators, lottery officials, “free gift” givers)
Government call? Think twice before you pick up
Most government agencies and legitimate companies won’t call you out of the blue, especially not to ask for money or personal information. If you’re unsure whether a caller is who they say they are, hang up. Then, go to the organization’s official website and find their contact info (usually on a “Contact Us” page or an old statement). Call that number and ask if they tried to reach you.
Another easy check? Log into your account with the organization or company that supposedly called. If there’s no message in your inbox, it’s likely a scam and you can rest easy.
How to spot a phone scammer
Though phone-calling scammers may be relentless, they are not reinventing the scamming wheel. Whether the caller enlists technology—think AI, robocalling, and call spoofing—or a real-live person reading from a script, their bag of tricks tends to be classic.
Scam chances are high when:
You don’t recognize the caller’s phone number
You answer, remain silent, and wait; the caller doesn’t say anything and hangs up a few seconds later
The recording (or person) asks you to answer a question (usually a yes-no question) verbally or by pressing a button
The caller says they represent the government, a company, or an agency
You get pressured, threatened, or told you must act immediately to avoid some dramatic consequence
The caller wants you to pay them via wire transfer, gift card, cryptocurrency, in-game currency, or payment app
What to do if you get scammed over the phone
If you encounter any of these red flags, either let the call roll to voicemail or hang up and block the number you answered.
If you’ve already responded and shared personal information, and you're an Allstate Identity Protection member, call us right away. We’ll guide you through the next steps based on the type of information you may have shared.
Not a member but believe you were targeted by a phone scam? Here are a few actions you can take:
Contact your bank or credit card company’s fraud department, depending on how you paid the scammer. Have them freeze your accounts and see what can be done to restore funds. Cancel and replace cards.
Place a freeze on credit reports at the three major credit bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. (This stops anyone from getting a loan or credit card using your information.)
Change your login credentials, especially for any account linked to a form of payment. Enable multi-factor authentication.
Report the scam. File reports with your local police, the FTC, and the Better Business Bureau.
