In the modern age of technology and communication, it’s easier than ever to receive calls from foreign numbers. Unfortunately, not all of these calls are legitimate, and some can be dangerous scams aimed at tricking you into calling back and racking up your phone bill. It’s essential to be aware of the risks associated with accepting calls from foreign numbers and take necessary precautions to protect yourself.
The scam typically works like this: you receive a call from a foreign number that you don’t recognize. The caller will hang up after one or two rings, leaving you with a missed call notification. Curiosity might lead you to call back to find out who the caller was and what they wanted. But, as soon as you make the call, you’ll be redirected to a premium rate number, often located overseas, that will start charging you at a high rate per minute.
These scams are known as “Wangiri,” which means “one ring and cut” in Japanese. They are becoming increasingly common worldwide, and many people have fallen victim to them. In some cases, victims have been charged hundreds or even thousands of dollars in phone bills without realizing it.
The best way to protect yourself from this scam is to be cautious when accepting calls from unknown foreign numbers. You can take some steps to avoid these scams, such as:
- Don’t answer calls from unknown foreign numbers: If you don’t recognize the number, let it go to voicemail. Scammers will often hang up after one or two rings, hoping to trick you into calling back.
- Don’t call back: If you do receive a missed call from a foreign number, don’t call back, even if it’s from a legitimate-seeming country code or area code. It’s best to do some research before calling back a missed call, especially if it’s from an unfamiliar foreign number.
- Check the number online: Before calling back a missed call, use a search engine to see if the number is associated with any known scams. There are many online databases that keep track of scam numbers, and it’s worth checking them out before returning a call.
- Use a call blocking app: There are many call-blocking apps available that can help identify and block scam calls, including those from foreign numbers.
In conclusion, accepting calls from unknown foreign numbers can be a dangerous gamble. Scammers use these calls as a way to trick people into calling back and racking up expensive phone bills. By being cautious and following some of the tips mentioned above, you can protect yourself from these scams and avoid unnecessary expenses.
@redbit_tech Don’t answer phone calls or messages from unknown foreign numbers! Thanks to Bmobile for sponsoring this video 🙌 #learnontiktok #techtok ♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys – Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey