Answer by saying your name or a simple greeting, then listen before you speak
When your phone rings, pick it up within the first few rings if you can — callers assume you are there after that point. Say "Hello" or give your name: "This is Sarah" or "Hi, it's Marcus." Then pause and let the other person speak first. This tells them you are ready to listen and gives them a chance to identify themselves.
If you do not recognize the voice, ask who is calling before you give out any information about yourself. A simple "Who is this?" or "May I ask who's calling?" is perfectly polite and protects you from scams. Legitimate callers — your doctor's office, your bank, a friend — will tell you their name or organization without hesitation.
If the call is from an unknown number and the caller cannot or will not say who they are, you can end the call. You are not obligated to stay on the line with someone who will not identify themselves, no matter how urgent they sound.
Key Takeaways
- Answer with a greeting and your name, then listen first so the caller knows you are ready to talk.
- Ask who is calling before you share personal information, bank details, or confirm your account numbers.
- Scammers often claim to be from your bank, the IRS, or a utility company — real organizations will not ask you to verify your identity by reading your full account number aloud.
- If a caller pressures you, uses threats, or demands payment by gift card or wire transfer, hang up and call the organization directly using a number from your bill or their official website.
- You can end any call at any time, for any reason — you do not owe a stranger an explanation.
Recognize common phone scams by what they ask for
Scammers call pretending to be from your bank, your utility company, the IRS, or a tech support service. They create urgency by saying your account is locked, you owe money, or your computer has a virus. Then they ask you to confirm information: your Social Security number, your account number, your credit card number, or your password.
Real organizations almost never call you asking for this information. Your bank already knows your account number — they do not need you to read it aloud. The IRS sends letters, not calls, for tax problems. Your utility company has your account on file. If you are unsure, hang up and call the organization back using the number on your bill or their official website. That way you know you are reaching the real company, not someone pretending to be them.
Watch for these red flags: the caller says you must pay immediately, they demand payment by gift card or wire transfer, they tell you not to hang up or call anyone else, or they claim to be from a government agency threatening arrest. None of these are how real organizations operate.
What to do if you answer and realize it is a scam
Hang up. You do not need to be polite, you do not need to explain, and you do not need to stay on the line. Simply end the call.
Do not give out any information, even if the caller says they already have some of it. Scammers often use a small piece of real information — your name, your address, or an old account number — to make themselves sound legitimate. Anything you add to that gives them more to work with.
After you hang up, you can report the call to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov or to your state's attorney general's office. You can also report it to your phone carrier — most carriers have a way to report spam or scam calls through your account or through a code you dial (like *57 on some landlines). Reporting helps authorities track patterns and warn others.
How to handle calls from people you know
When a friend, family member, or colleague calls, the same rule applies: listen first. They will usually say who they are and why they are calling right away. If they do not, a simple "Hey, what's up?" or "How can I help?" gives them the opening.
If someone calls claiming to be a family member in an emergency — asking you to send money right away — pause before you act. Scammers impersonate grandchildren, adult children, or other relatives and create panic. Before you send money, hang up and call that family member back at a number you know is theirs. A real emergency can wait the two minutes it takes to verify.
Phone etiquette for work and formal calls
If you are answering a work phone or a business line, answer more formally: "Good morning, this is [Your Name] with [Company Name], how can I help?" This tells the caller they have reached the right place and that you are ready to assist them.
If you are taking a message for someone else, write down the caller's name, their phone number, the time they called, and a brief note about what they need. Read it back to them to make sure you have it right: "So that's Sarah Chen, 555-0147, calling about the Tuesday meeting — did I get that correct?" This prevents mix-ups and shows the caller you are taking them seriously.
If you need to put someone on hold, ask first: "Would you mind holding for just a moment?" Then mute your end or lower the volume so they do not hear background noise. Come back within a minute or two. If you cannot help them, offer to take a message or transfer them to someone who can.
Managing unwanted calls and robocalls
Robocalls are automated calls, often from scammers or telemarketers. They may play a recorded message, or they may connect you to a person. You can reduce them by not answering calls from numbers you do not recognize, by not pressing buttons when a robocall asks you to (pressing a button confirms your number is active), and by registering your number on the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov.
Most phones have a built-in way to block or silence unknown callers. On iPhones, go to Settings, then Phone, then toggle on "Silence Unknown Callers" — calls from numbers not in your contacts will go straight to voicemail. On Android phones, open the Phone app, tap the three dots at the top, go to Settings, then Spam and Call Screen, and turn on filtering. You can also add specific numbers to your block list if the same caller keeps trying.
If a robocall or scam caller keeps calling, do not engage with them. Do not press buttons, do not say anything, and do not call them back. Simply block the number and move on. Responding — even to say "stop calling" — tells them your number is active and worth calling again.
What to do if you miss a call
If you miss a call, check your voicemail. A real caller will leave a message saying who they are and why they called. If there is no message, it was likely a robocall or a wrong number — you do not need to call back.
If you see a missed call from an unknown number and you are curious, you can search the number online to see if others have reported it as a scam. Websites like TrueCaller, WhoCalled, or even a simple Google search can tell you if that number has a pattern of scam complaints. If it does, do not call it back.
If the missed call is from a real organization that needs to reach you — your doctor, your bank, a delivery service — they will either leave a voicemail or try again. You do not have to return every call immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it rude to ask who is calling?
No. Asking "Who is this?" or "May I ask who's calling?" is standard and polite. Everyone does it. Real callers expect it and will answer without hesitation. If someone gets offended by the question, that is a sign something is off.
What should I do if I accidentally gave a scammer my information?
Contact your bank or credit card company right away and tell them what information you shared. They can monitor your account for fraud and issue you a new card if needed. You can also place a fraud alert on your credit report by calling one of the three credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion — and asking them to flag your file.
Can I block my number when I call someone?
Yes. On most phones, you can dial *67 before the number to hide your caller ID for that one call. On iPhones, go to Settings, Phone, Show My Caller ID and toggle it off. On Android, open the Phone app, tap the three dots, go to Settings, then Call Settings, and look for Caller ID options. Keep in mind that some people have settings that reject blocked calls.
What if someone keeps calling and hanging up?
This is usually a robocall testing whether your number is active. Do not call back. Block the number if it keeps happening. If the calls are threatening or harassing, you can report them to your phone carrier or to local police.
Should I answer calls from my own number?
No. If you see a call coming from your own phone number, it is a scam. Scammers use a technique called "spoofing" to make their call appear to come from your number or a number similar to yours. Do not answer, and do not call back.