What is the primary function of a smartphone? To connect people, right? So, when it comes to catching up with loved ones, receiving delivery updates, confirming appointments, or even checking financial updates, we are heavily reliant on calls and text messages.
But we’re not the only ones taking advantage of these channels, as these have become the go-to tools for scammers as well. Cybercriminals now know that a simple phone number can be their ticket into a person’s phone.
For this purpose, they make scam calls and send fake OTP messages to your device, and before you even realize it, your sensitive data is in their hands. This is exactly where a call history monitoring app can be particularly helpful. How? Let’s find out!
Common Signs of Suspicious Calls and Messages
When someone tries to scam you, it’s never foolproof; there are a few telltale signs that can indicate something fishy. One of the most prominent signs that you can catch is an unexpected, sudden contact. Say you receive a call from a company you weren’t expecting to hear from, it’s time to pause and think.
Another red flag to look out for is urgency or a constant pressure to act on something quickly. If there’s a scammer on the other side of the call, they’ll probably threaten you with a penalty or promise you a reward so you can make a decision without thinking clearly.
Now, if we talk about the most clear signs of them all, requesting personal info like social security code or financial details is the one you should steer clear of. Moreover, if you receive a strange link or attachment, do not open it, as it can contain malware or take you to a phishing site.
Scams to Watch Out for
The worst part about scams is that they are of multiple types. Avoiding them is like playing dodgeball, but with multiple players throwing the balls right at you. Duck, jump, twist, turn, save yourself from one thing, only to see another one coming.
For instance, what if someday you receive a call or a voice note from someone claiming to be an official? Such vishing scams are on the rise, where scammers use deep fake technology to impersonate someone to get sensitive info or money from you.
Moreover, sometimes, you can also fall victim to the type called ‘smishing’. With this method, scammers send suspicious texts your way with fake delivery alerts, reward announcements, fake links, etc.
Other scams include robocalls with automated threats or prizes, SIM swap attacks that hijack your phone number to access accounts, and subscription traps that sign you up for costly services without your consent.
The effects of these scams can range from personal security to financial loss and even long-term damage to your reputation.
Tweens and Teens as the Most Exposed Demographic
One can no longer remain oblivious to how the teens and tweens’ world operates today. With the phone constantly pinging with notifications for calls and texts, they act impulsively and tend to respond to everything at a whim.
While their quick pace helps them keep up with others, it also opens the gates for them to be exploited by scammers. On one hand, some are not even aware of what common scams are, and on the other, they just cannot care enough to watch out for scams. What all of this comes to is an increased vulnerability to fraud.
Then, does this mean it is inevitable? Not really, you just need the right strategies to encounter this prevalent problem among tweens and teens swiftly.
Teach Them to Catch Red Flags
The first step in keeping teens and tweens safe is teaching them to spot red flags. If they know what they are dealing with in the first place, it’s easier for them to stay safe. So, as parents, you can encourage them to pause when a call or message feels off.
Also, when there are signs of urgency, threats, or promises that sound too good to be true, all of these can be major red flags. So, show your children how to verify identities by contacting the company or person directly, instead of responding immediately. Role-playing fake scam scenarios can make these lessons stick. By practicing this skill, kids learn to trust their instincts and think more critically.
Turn on Built-In Phone Spam and Scam Protection
We understand that the ongoing dialogue about scams has you worried, and so do smartphone manufacturing companies. Due to the rise in scams, they now produce cell phones with built-in protection features.
Tools like spam alerts, call screening, and scam filters work in the background to actively protect you against any fishy activity. Using these features is like having an extra pair of eyes for your phone.
Indulge your children in exploring these features with you and explain their use and benefits to them as well. In this way, they’ll know why such precautions matter and will still be able to enjoy their digital life at the same time.
Install a Call Blocking and Message Filtering App
While built-in tools are great for initial safety, they cannot possibly guarantee 100% protection. So, what you can do is to add a call blocking and message filtering app to take protection a step further. These apps can automatically stop known scam numbers and filter shady texts. That said, they can even send alerts when unusual activity pops up.
Some also offer parental controls so you can have extra peace of mind without stressing over your child’s every move. Showing how these apps work can allow your children to see them as safety nets instead of restrictions.
Use a Phone Monitoring App
When it comes to keeping your children safe from suspicious calls and messages, sometimes built-in features and call blockers aren’t enough. This is where a call history monitoring app like Xnspy.com can make a real difference.
Xnspy tracks the call history of any mobile number by offering practical tools to detect risks before they spiral out of control. If we talk about the basics of this app, it is designed for comprehensive oversight of a targeted device. The app works quietly in the background to spot every ongoing activity.
Once captured, Xnspy.com then organizes all these logs onto a user-friendly web-based dashboard. Here, you will also find report analysis in easy-to-read formats to understand patterns and identify potential threats. The app is lightweight and discreet, i.e., it doesn’t disrupt the user’s phone experience while still delivering reliable insights.
One of this call history monitoring app’s most valuable features is access to call logs and recordings. With this feature in hand, you can review who’s contacting your child and listen in on the calls as well, if needed. When you pair the call history feature with detailed call analysis, you can quickly spot unusual patterns or repeated numbers that may be suspicious.
Xnspy also tracks text messages to give you visibility into conversations that could involve scams or threats. All these text messages are laid out in conversational style, so it becomes easier for you to understand the exchange between your child and the scammer. Moreover, Xnspy keylogger records every keystroke from the targeted cell phone, so you always know if your child has typed something sensitive to send or not.
Beyond calls and texts, Xnspy.com includes a screen recorder and browser history tracker. This helps you, as parents, to detect phishing attempts or scam websites visited. It also lists all installed apps for you to identify suspicious downloads that could bring malware.
For proactive defense, Xnspy offers app blocking to prevent harmful apps from accessing sensitive data and a remote phone wipe feature to erase all data instantly for safety purposes.
Save Proof and Report Scam Calls or Messages
When it comes to encountering a suspicious call or message, you can always choose to report it. However, to do so, remember that saving the proof is extremely important. For collecting the required proof, you can ask your children to take screenshots or record call details. Similarly, they can even note numbers and timestamps to report the instance. Doing so can help in preventing others from falling victim to the same tricks.