Scammers are using auto-dialers to call their potential victims' cell phone numbers. The scammers let the phone ring once, which is just enough for a missed call message to appear on the potential victims' phone. The scammers know their potential victims will call back because they will believe the call was legitimate or will be curious about who called.
If the potential victims see the missed call and call back the number, chances are they will 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. The calls are from phone numbers with three-digit area codes that look like they’re from inside the U.S., but actually are associated with international phone numbers — often in the Caribbean.
The area codes include:
- 268
- 284
- 473
- 664
- 649
- 767
- 809
- 829
- 849
- 876.
If you get a call like this, don’t pick it up and don’t call the number back. There’s no danger in getting the call: the danger is in calling back and racking up a whopping bill.
If you're tempted to call back, do yourself a favor and check the number through online directories first. They can tell you where the phone number is registered.