Unscrupulous phone calls: Could they compromise your device's security?
In today's digital age, it's essential to stay vigilant against phone scams, one of which is the One Ring Scam, also known as "Wangiri." This insidious scam involves automated systems making thousands of brief calls that ring once or disconnect rapidly. When the recipient calls back out of curiosity, they are connected to costly premium-rate or international numbers, leading to hefty charges that benefit the scammers [1].
The primary objectives behind these hang-up calls are threefold:
- Tricking recipients into calling back premium-rate or international numbers, incurring significant fees that are shared with the scammers [1].
- Generating a high volume of callbacks quickly, exploiting the recipient's curiosity or concern and increasing the scammers' profits rapidly [1].
- Sometimes, these calls may also be part of broader spam or robo-call patterns designed to verify active numbers for future scams or telemarketing [2][3].
To safeguard yourself from falling victim to this scam, here are some useful tips:
- Refrain from calling back numbers that ring once or hang up immediately, especially if they are unfamiliar or from suspicious area codes [1].
- Exercise caution with calls flagged as “Possible Scam” or “Spam Likely,” or calls with characteristics such as pressure tactics, urgent threats, or requests for personal information [3][5].
- Utilise call-blocking tools and consider registering with do-not-call registries to reduce unwanted scam calls [3].
Remember, education and awareness are fundamental to protecting your privacy and security. In Spain, these cases have been detected using special tariff phones such as those starting with 803, 806, 807, or 905 [4]. Commonly used international prefixes in "wangiri" scam include +225 (Ivory Coast), +233 (Ghana), +355 (Albania), +216 (Tunisia), and +44 (United Kingdom) [4].
It's crucial to understand that cybercriminals cannot access a mobile device through a call; it's a hoax. Activating airplane mode or turning off and restarting a phone does not disinfect the smartphone from potential threats [5]. To protect against scams, it's essential to run an antivirus and, in extreme cases, reset the phone to factory settings [6].
If you suspect you are a victim of fraud or a cyberattack, report the incident to authorities such as the State Security Forces and Bodies or the National Institute of Cybersecurity (INCIBE) [2]. The National Police also offers a series of tips for detecting and avoiding telephone scams [7].
In conclusion, staying informed and vigilant is key to protecting yourself from phone scams like the One Ring Scam. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to these fraudulent practices.
References:
[1] Ofcom (2021). One Ring scam: How it works and how to protect yourself. Retrieved from https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consumers/mobile-in-home/tips-guides/one-ring-scam
[2] INCIBE (2021). One Ring Scam. Retrieved from https://www.incibe.es/es/prevenir/alertas/one-ring-scam
[3] Federal Communications Commission (2021). One Ring Scam. Retrieved from https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/one-ring-scam
[4] El País (2020). El One Ring Scam, un nuevo estafa telefónica que se multiplica en España. Retrieved from https://elpais.com/tecnologia/2020/10/28/actualidad/1603794215_285839.html
[5] National Cyber Security Centre (2021). One Ring scam. Retrieved from https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/one-ring-scam
[6] Cybersecurity Tips (2021). Protecting your phone from scams. Retrieved from https://cybersecuritytips.eu/en/protecting-your-phone-from-scams/
[7] National Police (2021). Tips for detecting and avoiding telephone scams. Retrieved from https://www.policia.es/es/seguridadciudadana/seguridad-en-la-red/consejos-de-seguridad-en-la-red/consejos-para-detectar-y-evitar-los-fraudes-telefonicos-20210316.shtml
- In light of the prevalence of the One Ring Scam, it's recommended to report any suspected cases to authorities such as the National Police or the National Institute of Cybersecurity (INCIBE) to aid in investigations related to cybersecurity and general-news about crime-and-justice.
- Staying aware of common international prefixes used in the One Ring Scam, like +225 (Ivory Coast), +233 (Ghana), +355 (Albania), +216 (Tunisia), and +44 (United Kingdom), can help individuals in protecting their technology and cybersecurity against this type of phone scam.
