Posted by Stephen Palamara, TCC Director of Business Development
It has happened to everyone – your cell phone rings once and when you answer, the line is dead. Annoying – yes, but also a potential scam.
A new phone scam has appeared and involves your phone ringing only once. If you call the number back, you will incur an international call charge from your cell phone carrier. Scammers are being very tricky and will use international numbers from regions that also begin with three-digit codes, such as in the Caribbean.
An article posted on Kim Komando’s website has the details: https://www.komando.com/happening-now/564692/new-phone-scam-targets-consumers-in-the-middle-of-the-night.
According to the article, the FCC suggests you follow this advice to avoid scammers.
- “Don’t answer or return any calls from numbers you don’t recognize.”
- “Before calling unfamiliar numbers, check to see if the area code is international.”
- “If you do not make international calls, ask your phone company to block outgoing international calls on your line.”
- “Always be cautious, even if a number appears authentic.”
What should you do if you are billed for a call you made as a result of the scam? The article has this advice for consumers:
- Call your mobile phone carrier’s consumer help line to resolve the matter
- If you can’t resolve it with your carrier, you can file a complaint with the FCC
- If you feel you are the victim of an international phone scam, you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission
To learn more about TCC’s Security Services please visit our website https://www.e-tcc.com/security-services.
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