United States — If you or someone you love still relies on a landline, you’ve probably noticed it: more and more scam calls, and they’re getting harder to spot. In 2024 and into 2025, landline spoofing has surged across the U.S., catching millions off guard — especially older adults, small business owners, and anyone who tends to trust a familiar-sounding caller ID.
These aren’t just those annoying spam calls you hang up on. This is worse. Scammers are making it look like the call is coming from somewhere you trust — like your bank, the IRS, or even the local police. This technique, known as caller ID spoofing, aims to lower your defences immediately.
As soon as you pick up, they dive in. You supposedly owe money. There’s “suspicious activity” on your account. Something urgent needs fixing right now. They talk fast, throw around jargon, maybe even rattle off a badge number or fake case ID to sound official. It’s all designed to rattle you — to get you acting before you’ve had a chance to think.
What makes these calls especially dangerous is that they usually aren’t robocalls — there’s often a real person on the line. They are trained to sound believable. They’ll play roles, switch tones, and maybe even create background noise to sound like a call centre. The whole act is designed to catch you off guard and make you act before you think.
And it's working. Seniors are some of the most frequent targets, often because they’re more likely to answer landlines and more likely to trust what shows up on caller ID. However, anyone can fall victim to deceit.
This isn’t just annoying — it’s harmful. People are losing money, feeling shaken, and, in some cases, having their identities stolen. The calls are more convincing than ever, and the emotional toll can be just as damaging as the financial one.
Key Statistics: Landline Spoofing on the Rise
We’ve seen a sharp rise in scam calls across the U.S., but reliable data specifically on landline spoofing is still limited. Here's what we do know:
Robocalls hit 52.8 billion in 2024.
That’s about 4.4 billion scam and spam calls every month. While the breakdown between landline and mobile isn’t specified, landlines remain heavily targeted — especially in households with older adults or small businesses.
Scammers are spoofing trusted numbers.
The majority of victims say the call looked like it came from a real organisation — the IRS, a bank, or even local police. Caller ID spoofing is a major part of how scammers get through the front door.
Older adults are more likely to pick up — and trust — landline calls.
While there’s no confirmed stat like “twice as likely,” many experts agree that seniors are more vulnerable, especially when the caller sounds official or urgent. When these scams work, it’s often seniors who lose the most, both financially and emotionally.
$12.5 billion was lost to fraud in 2024.
According to the FTC, this amount is a 25% increase from the previous year. Imposter scams made up $2.95 billion of that. The FTC doesn’t separate landline vs mobile losses, but given who scammers often target, landline users are clearly affected.
The Vulnerable Target: Seniors at Risk
Scammers know exactly who they’re targeting — and older adults are at the top of the list.
While anyone can fall victim to a spoofed call, seniors face some of the worst consequences. Many still rely on landline phones for day-to-day communication, and when a call appears to come from a trusted source — like Medicare, the IRS, or their local bank — it’s easy to believe it’s real.
In 2024, older Americans reported losing $2.3 billion to fraud, with those aged 80 and above reporting the highest median losses — over $1,600 per person, according to the FTC. And that’s just what gets reported. Experts estimate the real number could be much higher, as many older victims are too embarrassed, confused, or afraid to come forward.
Phone calls are still one of the most common ways scammers reach seniors. For those over 80, reported losses from phone scams surpassed losses from online scams, showing just how vulnerable landlines remain.
It’s not just about money — the emotional toll is just as real. Seniors who fall for scams often report feeling ashamed, isolated, or like they can’t trust anyone again. Some are left hesitant to answer any phone calls at all, cutting off a vital lifeline to family, doctors, and community.
These scams don’t just drain bank accounts — they erode trust, independence, and peace of mind.
Businesses and the Cost of Landline Spoof Calls
Landline spoofing isn't just a consumer issue—it's a growing threat to businesses across various sectors. Scammers exploit caller ID spoofing to impersonate trusted entities, leading to significant financial losses, reputational damage, and operational challenges for companies.
Financial Impact: Substantial Losses Reported
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In 2020, voice fraud, including phone spoofing, resulted in nearly $20 billion in losses in the U.S. alone.
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A 2024 study by Hiya revealed that 34% of IT and security leaders reported their businesses had fallen victim to phone scams.
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Smaller financial institutions are particularly vulnerable, with 79% of credit unions and community banks reporting over $500,000 in direct fraud losses in 2023.
Reputational Damage: Loss of Customer Trust
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Following impersonation calls, 39% of consumers perceived the affected business negatively or lost trust in its security measures.
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Additionally, 33% of consumers became suspicious of future calls from the business, and 12% switched to competitors after receiving spoofed calls.
Operational Challenges: Declining Customer Engagement
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A TransUnion survey found that 70% of consumers ignored legitimate business calls due to fears of scams, leading to missed opportunities and decreased customer engagement.
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This hesitancy affects businesses' ability to communicate effectively with customers, impacting service delivery and satisfaction.
These findings highlight the importance of businesses adopting stronger caller authentication tools, training staff on scam awareness, and educating customers on how to verify legitimate outreach.
Can Call Blockers Help Prevent Spoofed Landline Calls?
According to the FCC, call-blocking devices are a practical tool for stopping many unwanted and illegal calls from reaching landline phones. These devices work by identifying known scam numbers and allowing users to block additional numbers manually or with a button press.
One example is the CPR Call Blocker, which is widely used in homes across the U.S. It connects directly to a landline and helps screen out unwanted calls using a preloaded database of scam numbers. It also gives users the option to block new numbers instantly.
While not foolproof—especially against new spoofing tactics—call blockers are a useful first layer of protection, especially for households with older adults or vulnerable individuals. When combined with awareness and caution, they can significantly reduce scam call exposure.
Final Thought
Landline spoof calls may seem like an old-school scam, but their impact today is very real. They target the people and businesses least equipped to spot them — seniors, families, and small organisations. The emotional toll, financial losses, and erosion of trust can’t be ignored. As scams continue to evolve, so must our awareness and response. Tools like call blockers, combined with education and vigilance, are a simple but powerful way to protect ourselves and those we care about most.
About CPR Global Tech
CPR Global Tech is the company behind the CPR Call Blocker, one of the most widely used landline call-blocking devices in the world. CPR Global Tech is committed to developing practical technology that protects consumers from nuisance and scam calls.
Contact Information
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Website: www.callblockerusa.com
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Address: 2711 Centerville Road, Wilmington, Delaware 19808-1645
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Phone: 818 - 927 - 0871
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Email address: support@cprcallblocker.com