How to Stay Safe From *401# Call Forwarding Scams?

*401# call forwarding scam is a phone scam in which fraudsters trick individuals into dialing the *401# code on their phones. *401# is a code that activates call forwarding, redirecting incoming calls from the victim's phone to another number.

Perpetrators initiate the fraud by mentioning representatives of telecom companies or government agencies. The scammer then manipulates the victim to dial *401# followed by a specific number. They contact every individual to offer promotions or resolve technical issues related to call forwarding.

Scammers first contact the victim and project themselves as organizational agencies or customer care service providers. They gain the victim's trust and then manipulate the victim to dial the *407 code to activate the call-forwarding feature. After activating the feature, it redirects the incoming calls to the scammer's phone. The scammer then gets access to everything, such as OTP codes, personal information, and many other financial details.

Here is the complete working mechanism of *401# call forwarding scams.
 

1. Initial Contact
   The scammer presents as an organization or agency and offers promotional services, technical support, or customer care.
    
2. Building Trust
   The scammer tries to provide genuine information about the services to build trust. They provide critical security information so the victim can easily trust it.
    
3. Promotion of *401# Code
   After gaining the victim's trust, the scammer forces them to enter the code *401# to solve the technical issues,
    
4. Activation of Call Forwarding
   Once you dialed *401, the call forwarding feature is activated. After activating it, all the calls are routed to the scammer's phone.
    
5. Unsuspecting Victims
   After redirecting the number, the scammer can access critical information and personal details, such as banking details, authentication codes, or confidential conversations.
    
6. Exploitation and Further Scams
   When they access critical information, they may use it for scam calls, financial fraud calls, etc.
    
7. Victim’s Unawareness
   As the scammers access the information, they ensure it is unnoticeable. The victim does not realize that their calls have been redirected.
    
8. Discovery or damage
   After a specific time, the victim may notice differences in their call records and experience financial loss. The scammer might misuse the information in criminal activities.

*401# call forwarding scam is an example of many potential scams and frauds that occur frequently. Since scammers directly reach you through such scams, it is important that you educate yourself about them. Besides, you should also consider some essential measures to avoid the *401# call forwarding and other similar scams, such as:
 

1. Do Not Dial Unfamiliar Codes: If a caller requests you to dial the code *401#, kindly avoid it.
    
2. Verify Requests: The caller presents as they are from customer care and requests you dial the code. Hang up the call and try to verify the caller by calling the service provider.
    
3. Use Call Blocking: The call blocking feature can block spam calls. So, try to find out the feature on your phone. If your phone does not have a blocking feature, you can install the app from the App Store.
    
4. Check Your Call Logs: Check your call logs regularly, and if you find the bills suspicious, contact your phone service provider to see the issues.
    
5. Set Up a PIN for Call Forwarding: Some service providers offer the feature of setting up a PIN to activate call forwarding.
    
6. Stay Informed and Share Knowledge: You must follow the latest scam news to learn prevention tips. To keep them informed, share the news about prevention tips with the surrounding area.
    
7. Contact Your Service Provider: If you find the issue too serious, try to contact your service provider.

Protecting yourself from phone scams, like the *401# call forwarding scam, is more critical than ever. Understanding how these scams work and taking proactive steps to safeguard your information can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to fraudsters.

Calilio offers various features to help you avoid scam calls and protect your personal information. You can use advanced call-blocking and filtering tools to screen unwanted calls, ensuring that only trusted contacts can reach you. Sign up today!

You can prevent a scammer from calling by dialing *60 and following the instructions provided. Dialing the code blocks spam calls from unknown numbers.

Dialing *401# activates the call-forwarding feature on the phone. It redirects the incoming calls to the scammer's phones, where they can misuse the phone for criminal activities like fraud or leaking personal information.