LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Sometimes you just can’t get to the phone in time to answer, so you simply return the call. But if your phone rings just once and stops, that’s a call you can definitely afford to miss. Do not call back!
The Federal Trade Commission blames illegal robocallers for the “one-ring” scam. It relies on victims’ curiosity to achieve success. The calls appear to come from inside the United States, since the first three digits resemble American area codes. But savvy scammers use international numbers that also use three-digit codes. For example, 232 goes to Sierra Leone, while 809 leads to the Dominican Republic.
If you call back, you risk getting connected to a number outside the country with the goal of keeping you on the line as long as possible. You may be charged for the connection and incur pricey per-minute fees. They later show up on your phone bill as premium services, or as toll calls.
To avoid this scam, don’t answer or return calls from numbers you don’t recognize. Those with legitimate business will leave a message. If you feel compelled to return a missed call you don’t recognize, check the area code before dialing. And if you get billed for charges related to a phone scam, you can file a complaint with the FTC.
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