Cyber Safety · 55 sec
Caller ID Can Be Faked
A familiar name or local number does not prove who is calling.
The useful idea
- Understand
Caller-ID spoofing changes the name or number displayed for an incoming call.
- Connect
A scammer can appear to be a bank, government office, local business, or person you know.
- Apply
Independent contact through a verified number breaks the connection between the display and the claimed identity.
Why this matters
The phone's screen reports transmitted information, not proof of the caller's identity.
Try this
End the call and use the organization's official number.
Test your recall
Which action best applies “Caller ID Can Be Faked”?
- Treat every unrequested MFA prompt as a security alert, not as a notification to dismiss by approving.
- End the call and use the organization's official number. — correct
- Use a phishing-resistant security key or FIDO-based sign-in for important accounts when available.
The phone's screen reports transmitted information, not proof of the caller's identity.