This is a nice feature but the root problem is how trusting people are of the totally insecure phone system. We all have to have “the talk” with our elderly parents, where we try to convince them to never do business over phone or e-mail unless they themselves initiated the conversation. No legitimate business will call you and expect you to pay money, give them access to a computer, ask for security codes, or anything like that. Always hang up, and if you think it’s actually life-or-death important (hint: it isn’t), call them back in their official number.

My parents got scammed in the past so they are on the lookout, but I still don’t think they are careful enough. And due to their age they get attacked a lot! Last time I visited, their phone was ringing every hour or two--all scam/spam. It’s only a matter of time until the next one is clever enough to get through.

I think these “external caller” scams are going to be with us until that generation dies out. The “trust the phone” instinct is too strong. Of course for my generation, the scammers will find something we inherently trust and exploit that, I have no doubt.