In today’s technology-driven world, we rely on our phones for everything from staying in touch with loved ones to conducting important business. Unfortunately, this also means that scammers have found new and creative ways to reach us.

Scam calls are becoming increasingly common, and it’s important to know how to stop scam calls and how to protect yourself from these malicious attacks. We’ll go over what scam calls are, how they work, and what you can do to prevent them.

Understanding Scam Calls

Scam calls are unsolicited phone calls made by individuals or groups trying to trick you into giving them your personal information or money. There are many different types of scam calls, but some of the most common include:

IRS scams

These callers claim to be from the Internal Revenue Service and threaten legal action if you don’t pay them immediately. They may tell you that you owe money for taxes and that you need to pay it immediately to avoid arrest or other legal consequences.

Charity scams

These callers claim to be from a charitable organisation and ask for a donation. They may use high-pressure tactics to convince you to donate, and may also ask for sensitive information like your credit card number.

Sweepstakes scams

These callers tell you that you’ve won a large sum of money and ask for a fee to release the winnings. They may request sensitive details such as SSN or bank account number.

These scammers often use tactics like high pressure, fear, and urgency to convince you to act quickly. They may also use tactics like spoofing to make it seem like the call is coming from a legitimate source. For example, they may use a fake caller ID that matches a government agency or well-known company.

Preventing Scam Calls

The best way to prevent scam calls is to be proactive and take steps to protect yourself. Keep these reminders in mind:

Use call-blocking technology

Many phone companies now offer call-blocking services that can automatically block calls from known scammers. You can also download third-party call-blocking apps for your smartphone. These apps can help you avoid scam calls by identifying and blocking calls from known scammers.

Don’t respond to unknown numbers

It’s advisable to not answer calls from unknown numbers. If it’s important, the person will leave a voicemail or try calling back. If you do answer, don’t provide any personal information or engage with the caller. Simply hang up and report the call to the appropriate authorities.

Put your number on the National Do Not Call registry

This registry is designed to help protect consumers from unwanted telemarketing calls. You can register your phone number for free and telemarketers are required to remove your number from their call list. If you receive a telemarketing call after registering, it’s likely a scam and you should report it.

Be sceptical of unsolicited offers

If someone calls you out of the blue and offers you a deal that seems too good to be true, it probably is. Guard personal details, don’t reveal them. If you’re not sure whether a call is legitimate, do some research before engaging with the caller.

Keep personal information private

Don’t share personal information like your Social Security number, credit card number, or bank account information with anyone you don’t know. Scammers may use this information to steal your identity or commit other crimes.

Conclusion

Scam calls are a growing problem in today’s world, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself. By using call-blocking technology, being cautious of unsolicited offers, and keeping personal information private, you can minimise your risk of falling victim to these scams. It’s important to remember that scammers use tactics like fear, urgency, and high pressure to trick you, so stay vigilant and don’t engage with them. By following these tips, you can safeguard your personal information and avoid becoming a victim of telemarketing fraud. Stay informed, stay protected, and don’t let scam calls get the best of you.

According to scientists from Harvard, Stanford and Carnegie, 85% of success at work depends on soft skills. The most important “soft skills” are planning and self-organization. We tell you about five practices that will help you get a lot done and still be productive and rested. These are basic principles of self-organization, but so effective.

Write Down Everything You Have to Do

When a computer has many tabs and programs open at the same time, it can slow down and work inefficiently. It’s the same with our brains.

According to a study by scientists at Harvard University, a person can hold about seven tasks in their head at once. Trying to constantly keep a multitude of tasks in short-term memory depletes our nervous system cells – we become distracted and inattentive, there are problems with sleep and memory.

To work effectively, you need to unload everything from your head that steals attention: thoughts of work tasks, household chores, plans for the evening. Try to write out all the tasks daily in a diary, notes in your phone or any task manager.

You don’t have to group them into lists right away. Just write out in a row whatever comes to mind, be it cooking a dinner or playing at https://starburstreview.com/. It won’t take more than five minutes a day, but you’ll notice that thinking becomes easier.

Sort Tasks by Priority

Planning and prioritizing can help you achieve zen in your busy schedule. Psychology expert Brandon Smith found in his research that planning helps you get rid of obsessive thoughts about work and get a good rest after a day of work.

You don’t have to stick to some complicated system to plan things. Try simply dividing tasks into “urgent” and “non-urgent” – such sorting will help you understand what to do first.

If you can plan with deadlines in mind, add another criterion – “importance. It will help you prioritize things more carefully. For example, the matter may be non-urgent, but important: call your colleagues and discuss the project plan. The “important” criterion will help you not to put things off, but add them to the nearest window in your schedule.

To prioritize tasks, first write them down in one list. And then define a different priority for each, consisting of urgency and importance. Let’s use an example:

1. Add an order button to the site – “urgent”, “important” (must be done first).
2. Coordinate the prototype of the site – “not urgent”, “important” (can be deferred to the second half of the day).
3. Arrange a meeting with a colleague – “not urgent”, “not important” (to be done if there is time).

Decompose the Tasks

Large tasks seem overwhelming and complex to us. We’re afraid to do them because we don’t know where to start. But if you break down a big task into many subtasks, it won’t seem so big anymore. It’s easy to tackle these small pieces one by one.

This technique is called decomposition: one heavy bag of groceries is much harder to carry than two smaller bags of the same groceries in both hands.

To decompose a task, break it up into a sequence of steps. For example, a frontend developer needs to add a feedback form to a website. At first glance, the task can be done quickly. But here’s what happens if you decompose it:

1. Ask the designer for a layout of the form.
2. Agree with the backend developer on what the server request-response will look like.
3. Make all the elements of the form visible using HTML and CSS.
4. Write code to process the user data and send it to the server.

It turns out that the execution of the task depends not only on the frontend developer, but also on the speed of the designer and the coordination with the backend. Now the task doesn’t seem so large and complex. It’s broken down into specific steps and it is clear where and how to start.

Get Rid of Distractions

If you want to improve your concentration, try one simple action – remove your phone from your desk.

According to scientists at the University of Texas, even if a smartphone is just lying around while you’re working, our cognitive abilities decline. Not to mention, it’s a great way to procrastinate because notifications from chats are an excuse to get away from a boring task.

If putting your phone away in another room doesn’t work, at least try turning off notifications. You can block messengers and social networks for the duration of work by using apps, like Stay Focused.

Another irritant for our brain is the variety of objects on our desktop: packages from sweets, scattered pens and notebooks, dirty cups and “necessary” things. Look at your desk and think about what you really need for work-and you’ll probably notice that half of it can be put away.

Plan Regular Vacations

It’s still necessary to have a rest, even if you are full of enthusiasm and are ready to work at night. The consequences of working without rest: rapid fatigue, reduced concentration, irascibility, headaches, and lack of interest in work and your favorite hobbies.

It’s unnecessary to go on a long vacation. To restore strength, you need to rest a little, but every day. Here’s how you can do it:

• Take breaks during work. If it is difficult to control yourself, use the Pomodoro technique: set a timer for 30-40 minutes, work for this time, and then pause for 10 minutes. Figures may vary – rely on yourself.
• Rest after work. Quality rest is not always meditation or sports. If you feel like watching a stupid show on YouTube, it will be just as useful a brain reset.
• Get enough sleep. Trite, but important advice. An adult needs 7-8 hours of sleep a night to keep the brain productive and healthy.
• Remember about physical activity. For example, a survey of civil servants in Australia found that employees who exercised several times during the day were less stressed.

If the word “sport” makes you reluctant, add at least daily walks to your schedule. The more reasons you have to walk, the better for your body and your overall condition. For example, go to the store not to the house next door, but walk to the one on the other block.

Sometimes even after a vacation we feel tired. The problem is that rest is often perceived as just another task. For example, we want to relax by walking in the park, and yet we set a goal of walking 5 kilometers.

Rest shouldn’t be just another achievement. Its essence is relaxation. If you decide to relax, don’t try to measure how effectively you spent your free time.