Beware the new phone scam

We heard from our friends at MyWireless.org on about a new twist to an old scam involving your mobile.

Here's how it goes:  The caller rings your number and lets it ring once or twice before disconnecting so that the number stays on your call log. Sometimes they might leave a voicemail. The number shows up as a missed call and is typically a normal three-digit area code that would appear to be a U.S. number, but it’s actually an international number.

• 809 is the Dominican Republic
• 876 is Jamaica
• 284 is the British Virgin Islands, etc

When you return the call, however, you’re automatically routed to an international adult entertainment or chat line where you can quickly rack up expensive charges. While major wireless companies work to block suspicious numbers on their networks, and most have consumer education systems in place to identify and combat these threats, these scams originate outside the reach of U.S. regulators and wireless providers.

Tips to Keep You Safe:

• Always check the area code before returning a missed call to ANY unknown caller.

• Be skeptical about area codes you don’t recognize.

• Be aware that there are numerous three-digit area codes (mostly in the non-U.S. Caribbean Islands) that connect callers to an international phone number.

• Don’t respond to text messages or calls from unknown sources. Delete them immediately.

• If you don’t regularly make international calls, ask your wireless carrier to block international calling.

Avoid Smishing Scams

Also on the rise is  similar texting scam called  ‘Smishing’ – a combination of ‘Short Message Service’ text messaging and email ‘Phishing’. It involves your responding to what appears to be a legitimate text message you received, even though it’s from a number you most likely don’t recognize.

Doing this can place yourself at greater risk for identity or information theft at the hands of crafty cyber thieves. This simple bait-and-hook fraud allows crooks to use auto-dialing or roll-texting computer programs to text you on your wireless device. The message encourages you to click a link or call the number back (the bait). It may be designed to make you think it's from your bank or credit card provider.

However, when you visit the website (the hook), you’ve unwittingly given the criminals access to your device, and they can attach dangerous spyware, malware, viruses, or spam to your device that gives them control of it and instant access to your personal (possibly financial) data.


What to do about it?

If you believe you’ve unwittingly been a victim of a scam like this, contact your carrier immediately. You should also file a complaint with the FCC and/or FTC, and report the activity to the NFIC and BBB to help save other consumers from becoming wireless call/text scam victims.