[ad_1]
The FCC warned consumers Friday of an upsurge in automated calls called "One Ring" scams – but that has nothing to do with Sauron or his henchmen in Middle-earth.
Joking aside, the "One Ring" or "Wangiri" scam targets potential victims with a series of calls – usually from area code 222 – often in the middle of the night.
"Recent reports indicate that these calls use the country code" 222 "of Mauritania, a country in West Africa," the FCC said in a press release. "According to reports, widespread nocturnal calls in the state of New York and Arizona."
It works like this: the caller (most likely an automated dialer) dials your number and hangs up almost immediately – usually after a ringtone, hence the name of the scam. The same call can be repeated several times in a row, especially at night. Apparently, the hustler bet that you will be worried after waking up with repeated calls from the same number and that you will remember to know what is going on.
It is at this moment that the trap is launched; the reminder works like a 1-900 number, resulting in huge toll charges that you will see on your next phone bill.
Since there is no way to launch this unique ring into the Mount Doom lights, the FCC advises you never to call back a phone number that you do not recognize. You can also contact your mobile provider to block outgoing calls to international numbers. And, unless you know someone in Mauritania, you should not call anyone with a phone number (222).
[ad_2]
Source link