“Single Ring” Phone Scam – Stay Away From Unknown Phone Calls Using These Area Codes
By KyleStevens-
A new phone scam has been circulating using random international area codes. This scam has put experts on alert & now they are warning everyone who owns a cell phone to not call if they receive a missed call from an unknown area code, urging them to make sure to check the number against a list of area codes that may be apart of this dangerous scam.
Inc.com reports that this new scam is being called the, “one ring scam.” This scam is common but it reappears every now and then. Right now? It has come back stronger than ever.
What these scammers may do is simply ring once and hang up. Also they may wait for their potential victim to pick up and then play “a recording of someone crying for help or the sounds of someone in need of medical attention or under attack.” Other times, they may deliver a text message to the potential target using the same scare tactic.
Although the number may appear to be coming from an American area code, the truth is that they aren't. In actuality, they derive from a number of different Caribbean countries and territories that use the North American numbering plan. In short, their numbers start with +1 just like U.S. number. However, their laws are different, and they allow for what look like regular numbers to exact exorbitant charges.
“The scammers hope you’ll call back, either because you believe a legitimate call was cut off, or you will be curious about who called,” the Federal Trade Commission warned back in 2014.
“If you do, chances are you’ll hear something like, ‘Hello. You’ve reached the operator, please hold.’ All the while, you’re getting slammed with some hefty charges — a per-minute charge on top of an international rate.”
In other words, these work like 976 or 900 numbers would in the United States. Not that I would know anything about those. I swear, dear, I don’t have the slightest idea how that got onto our bill …
According to the FTC, the most common area codes the scams originate from are 268, 284, 473, 664, 649, 767, 809, 829, 849 and 876.
If in doubt, don’t call. Remember, nobody in real danger is going to call you, they’re going to call the police. If it’s really important, they’ll call you back — or they would have stayed on the line in the first place. Using your common sense could save you a lot of coin.
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