We’ve all dialed a wrong number before. It happens, and usually it’s harmless. But scammers have figured out a way to make money off our misdials.
A misdial scam starts with a scammer buying a phone number nearly identical to a popular business's toll-free number, perhaps to a customer support line. This copycat phone number will have one or two digits changed from the official number, or it may start with a different toll-free prefix, like 888 rather than 800.
The scammer may even buy a sponsored search result or advertisement to promote the incorrect number, driving more callers to it.
Then, when a caller accidentally dials the wrong number due to a typo or bad information found online, they may hear a message that sounds like the legitimate company. Then the imposter answers, and the scam begins.
This scam occurs across all industries, including banks, airlines, insurance companies, and major retailers. Misdial scams are easy to fall for because not only do they sound very convincing, but also because you called them, meaning you are far more likely to provide your Social Security number, PIN, or password without hesitation.
Common Dialing Errors
- Dialing the wrong toll-free prefix
- Accidentally hitting a number twice
- Hitting an adjacent number
- Transposing numbers
- Confusing zero or one with letters
- Bad search results
Red Flags
- Generic greetings like “Customer Service,” “Technical Support” or “Helpdesk” are used when the scammer answers.
- They require "ID verification" before they even know why you are calling. (ex. Social Security number, birthday, address)
- Poor audio quality, static, or lots of background noise can be heard.
- When you express doubt, they escalate with urgency, threatening a negative consequence if you don't address your issue now.
How to Stay Safe
- Use trusted sources for contact details, such as phone numbers on the back of your card or on official websites. Use Bookmarks or Favorites to navigate to trusted websites.
- Verify that you have the official number and have entered it accurately.
- Avoid clicking on sponsored internet search results or advertisements. These can return incorrect information.
- Don’t overshare. Companies generally don’t ask for your username and password. Hang up if something feels "off."
- Monitor your financial accounts regularly. Watch for irregularities, such as missing deposits, unauthorized withdrawals, wire transfers or expenditures.
- When in doubt, don’t engage; instead, contact a trusted Arvest customer service source.
Report a Scam
- Arvest Fraud Department: Visit your local Arvest Bank or email ReportFraud@arvest.com.
- ReportFraud.ftc.gov: Scam reported to the FTC can be used to build cases against scammers, spot trends, educate the public, and share data about what is happening in your community.
- ic3.Gov: The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is a central hub for reporting cyber-enabled crime. It is run by the FBI, the lead federal agency for investigating crime.
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