Someone Is Using My Phone Number: Spoofing, and What to Do

Strangers calling to ask why you called them, when you didn’t? Most likely a scammer is “spoofing” your number: faking caller ID so their calls show your number instead of theirs (FCC). Here’s what to tell people who call back, what you can and can’t do about it, and the signs that someone has taken over your actual number.

Someone is using my phone number to call people: what’s going on?

If people call to say your number showed up on their caller ID, the FCC says it’s likely your number has been spoofed. Spoofing is when a caller deliberately fakes the information sent to caller ID to hide who they are (FCC).

The calls don’t come from your phone. Scammers can make any name or number show up on caller ID, and the caller could be anywhere in the world (FTC).

One thing is worth ruling out: if your phone suddenly lost service, someone may have taken over the number itself (FCC). That’s covered further down.

Why are scammers using my phone number?

“Scammers don’t care whose phone number they use,” the FTC says. One even used the number of an FTC employee (FTC, 2016).

People are more likely to answer a call that looks local, so scammers use “neighbor spoofing.” They often pick a caller ID number that matches the first six digits of the number they’re calling. The FTC says the faked name and number often belong to a real person who has no idea someone is misusing their information (FTC).

Scammers also spoof the numbers of companies and government agencies you may trust (FCC). For examples, see jury duty and arrest warrant calls and Medicare scam calls.

Is spoofing illegal?

It is when it’s done to defraud, cause harm or wrongly get anything of value. Under the Truth in Caller ID Act, FCC rules ban that, and illegal spoofers can face penalties of up to $10,000 for each violation. Not all spoofing is illegal: a doctor calling from a personal cell phone may show the office number instead (FCC).

People are calling me back saying I called them

Here’s the FCC’s advice for this situation (FCC):

1. Don’t answer calls from numbers you don’t know. That’s the FCC’s first suggestion.
2. If you do answer, keep it short. Explain that your number is being spoofed and that you didn’t actually make any calls.
3. Put it in your voicemail greeting. The FCC says you can add a message to your voicemail letting callers know your number is being spoofed. For example: “If this number called you recently, it was spoofed by scammers. I didn’t call you.”

Don’t share personal details with callers you don’t know. The FCC’s general advice is to never give out account numbers, Social Security numbers, passwords or other identifying information on unexpected calls (FCC).

If a caller wants to report the scam call they got, they still can. The FTC says to report the number on caller ID even if it might be spoofed, because law enforcement can sometimes still trace the call (FTC).

My number is being spoofed: can I stop it?

Usually, it stops on its own. The FCC says scammers switch numbers frequently, and it’s likely that within hours they’ll no longer be using yours (FCC).

The longer-term fix is inside the phone networks. The FCC requires phone companies to use a caller ID authentication system called STIR/SHAKEN. It lets the phone company of the person receiving a call verify that the call really comes from the number on caller ID. The FCC says this makes illegal spoofing harder and helps phone companies decide which calls to block or label (FCC).

If the calls keep coming, file a complaint with the FCC, which has a category for your own number being spoofed (FCC); see “How to report it” below. Getting scam calls yourself too? Ask your phone company about its call-blocking and labeling tools, and check your phone’s settings for built-in blocking (FCC).

My own calls now show up as “spam.” What can I do?

If a number is blocked or labeled “potential scam” or “spam” on caller ID, the FCC says it’s possible the number was spoofed. Phone companies and app developers label calls based on things like call patterns and consumer complaints (FCC).

• Contact the company that’s blocking or labeling your calls. The FCC has encouraged companies that block calls to give callers a way to contact them and fix the problem (FCC).
• Include it in your FCC complaint. The FCC’s “my own number is being spoofed” option covers numbers that are spoofed, blocked or labeled as potential spam (FCC).

Protect your voicemail

Spoofing can also put your voicemail at risk. Some voicemail services let you in when you call from your own number, so someone who spoofs your number could get into your voicemail if you haven’t set a password (FCC). Set a strong one (FCC).

While you’re at it, ask your phone company about adding a PIN or password to your account if you don’t have one (FCC). More ways to protect your number: what a scammer can do with your phone number.

When it’s more than spoofing: signs someone took over your number

Spoofing only fakes caller ID. It’s a bigger problem when a scammer takes over your actual number. In a port-out scam, they con your phone company into transferring your number to a phone or account they set up (FCC). In SIM swapping, they target your carrier to get your SIM swapped (FBI). Either way, your calls and texts go to them, and they typically race to reset the passwords on your financial and social media accounts (FCC, FBI).

	Caller ID spoofing	Number takeover (port-out or SIM swap)
What happens	Scammers’ calls show your number on other people’s caller ID (FCC)	Your number moves to a device the scammer controls (FCC)
Usual sign	People call saying your number showed up on their caller ID (FCC)	Your phone goes dark or only allows 911 calls (FCC)
First steps	Explain to callers, update your voicemail greeting (FCC), file an FCC complaint (FCC)	Contact your phone company and your bank right away (FCC)

Signs to watch for:

• No service, or only 911 calls. Losing service is typically the first sign your number was moved (FCC).
• Texts stop arriving. The FBI says to be aware of any changes in text (SMS) service (FBI).
• Alerts about changes you didn’t make to your phone, bank or other accounts. Contact that company right away, using a number you trust, like the one on your bill (FCC).
• Calls or charges on your phone bill that you didn’t make. Alert your phone company (FCC).

If you see these signs, act fast:

1. Contact your phone company to regain control of your number (FBI).
2. Contact your bank and other financial institutions (FCC). Ask them to put an alert on your accounts for suspicious logins and transactions (FBI).
3. Change the passwords on your online accounts (FBI). If someone got into your email, see what to do if your email was hacked.
4. File a police report, and place a fraud alert on your credit reports (FCC).
5. Report it to the FCC and the FBI’s IC3 (details below).

Did you read a code to a stranger?

Some scammers ask you to read back a code texted to your phone, for example to verify you’re a real person before buying something you’re selling. With that code, they may set up a Google Voice number linked to yours. They might use it to scam other people and hide who they are (FTC). The FTC’s alert links to steps for reclaiming your number. More on code tricks and number takeovers.

How to report it

• Your number is being spoofed, blocked or labeled as spam: file a complaint with the FCC. Choose “unwanted calls/texts” as the phone issue, then “my own number is being spoofed.” The FCC doesn’t resolve individual complaints, but it uses them to guide policy and possible enforcement (FCC).
• Your number was moved without permission: contact your phone company first (FCC). Then file an FCC complaint under number porting (FCC), file a police report (FCC) and report it at IC3.gov (FBI). If someone used your personal information, report it at IdentityTheft.gov to get a recovery plan.
• You got scam calls yourself, or lost money: tell the FTC at DoNotCall.gov if you didn’t lose money, or at ReportFraud.ftc.gov if you did or you have information about the scammer (FTC).

The report-a-scam tool lists more official channels, and the scam recovery checklist helps you track each step.

Watch for the follow-up scam

Scammers pretend to be someone you trust. They say they’ve found a problem with one of your accounts, or that someone’s using your identity. Then they offer to help and ask for your verification code (FTC). Hang up if someone:

• offers to “fix” the spoofing and asks for a code, PIN or password. Anyone who asks for your account verification code is a scammer, the FTC says (FTC). The FBI warns against giving your phone account password or PIN to callers who ask for it (FBI).
• claims to be from the FTC and says someone used your information. Scammers impersonate the FTC this way; the real FTC will never tell you to move your money to “protect it” (IdentityTheft.gov).
• texts you a link about your number or account. Don’t respond to texts or click links from numbers you don’t recognize (FCC). Already clicked? See I clicked a phishing link.

To check, hang up and call the company using a number you trust, like the one on your bill or its website (FCC). More tips: is this call really from my bank?

Warn your family

Scammers who pose as a relative in trouble sometimes spoof caller ID so the call looks like it’s from a trusted source. They can also use AI to clone a loved one’s voice. The FCC’s advice if a call like that comes in: hang up and call the relative back at the number saved in your contacts, and consider a family “safe word.” The FCC asks people to share this with family and friends (FCC). More: grandparent scams and AI voice clones.

What varies

• How long it lasts. The FCC says scammers will likely stop using your number within hours. That’s typical, not guaranteed (FCC).
• Your phone company. Blocking and labeling tools differ by company, and a blocked call may be handled differently depending on your provider (FCC).
• The network. STIR/SHAKEN only works on internet-based (IP) networks. FCC rules require providers still on older technology to upgrade or work on another caller ID authentication solution (FCC).