Why the number on your phone screen isn’t always who you think it is, and what we can do about it

TL;DR

• The number that appears on your phone can be faked, even if it looks familiar.
• Scammers use spoofing and SIM swaps to pretend to be someone you trust.
• Don’t rely on caller ID alone. If in doubt, hang up and call back using a trusted number.
• The phone system still trusts caller info too easily, and fixing it requires action from networks, governments, and users.

Want to go deeper? Read the full technical article here:
https://muckypaws.com/2025/04/25/caller-id-is-dying-long-live-caller-id/

Want to listen? We got you!

Have You Ever Had This Happen?

You miss a call. You check the number. It looks like a normal mobile number.

Maybe you call it back.

“This number is not in service.”

That’s strange, right? It could be a scam. It could be a fake number. It could even be someone pretending to be your bank, your doctor, or a government agency.

The number on your phone can be faked. And it often is.

What Is Caller ID Spoofing?

Caller ID spoofing is when a person or system makes a phone call but tricks your phone into showing a number that isn’t really theirs.

It’s like sending a letter but writing someone else’s name and address on the envelope.

Scammers use it to:

• Pretend to be your bank, doctor, or a delivery company
• Make you more likely to pick up
• Avoid being traced

It Used to Be Difficult. Not Anymore.

In the past, only expert hackers or large organisations could fake caller IDs. But now:

• You can buy tools online to spoof a call in minutes
• Some websites or apps offer spoofing as a paid service
• Scammers can fake mobile, landline, even 0800 numbers

The tools are cheap and widely available. It’s become a business model.

What’s Worse: Sometimes They Don’t Fake It. They Steal It.

Sometimes, criminals can take control of your real phone number. This is called a SIM swap.

They trick your phone company into moving your number to a new SIM card they control. Then they receive your texts, calls, and can reset your passwords.

This is especially dangerous if you use text messages for security codes.

Why Is This Still Happening?

Phone networks were designed decades ago. Back then, telecom companies trusted each other.

There was no real system for checking if the number on your screen is real or not.

Even today:

• The system still trusts caller information without checking
• Phone companies pass it along as-is
• Your phone displays whatever it’s told

Modern security systems (like websites with padlocks) check identity. But phone networks mostly don’t.

What’s Being Done About It?

In the US, phone companies are starting to use a system called STIR/SHAKEN. It helps confirm whether a call really comes from the number shown.

But:

• It only works on newer types of phone networks
• It doesn’t cover international calls
• It’s not used in the UK or most of Europe

The UK is looking at other options, but it’s not sorted yet.

So What Can We Do?

As Individuals:

• Don’t trust the number on your screen
• Hang up if something feels wrong
• Call back using a number you trust (like from a website or card)
• Be cautious if someone asks for money or personal info

As a Society:

• Phone companies need to verify numbers properly
• Governments need rules that require it
• We all need to talk more about how easy it is to fake a call

Final Thought

Caller ID was made to help us. But the world changed. Scammers caught up. The tools they use are easier than ever to get.

So here’s the rule:

Don’t trust the number. Trust the source.

If someone calls and says they’re your bank, your GP, or your child’s school, hang up and call back on a number you trust.

That’s not rude. That’s smart.

Want to Help?

Share this post. Start a conversation. Ask your phone provider what they’re doing about spoofing.

The more people who know about this, the safer we all are.