Phone scams are more common and trickier than ever.

To protect your identity and money, follow these tips:

Don’t answer calls from unknown numbers.

Never give unexpected callers personal information, including passwords or Social Security numbers.

If a caller asks you to press a button, hang up. It may be a robocaller, and scammers use this trick to identify targets.

Dont answer questions with yes. Scammers could record the response as a voice signature used to authorize fraudulent charges.

Remember that a legitimate company or government agency usually mails a statement before calling, especially about payments.

When it comes to avoiding phone scams, caution is key.

Published with permission from RISMedia.