Have you ever gotten a missed call from an international number? That could be a wangiri fraud or a “one-ring phone scam.”
Smart Communications has issued a warning to customers about the wangiri fraud, also known as the one-ring phone scam. Scammers use international premium-rate numbers to call victims and hang up after one ring, leaving a missed call. If the victim calls back, they are charged expensive per-minute rates. Some scammers play recorded messages or fake conversations to keep the caller on the line longer.
The scam started in Japan in the early 2000s. Wangiri comes from the words “wan” (one) and “giri” (to cut/hang up). Today, scammers use auto dialers and caller ID spoofing to make it seem like a real business is calling.
Smart’s VP and Head of Regulatory Affairs, Atty. Roy Ibay, urges users not to call back unknown numbers. If it’s important, the caller can leave a text or voicemail. Suspicious numbers should be blocked immediately.
How to protect yourself:
- Check suspicious numbers online to see if they are linked to scams.
- Know that Philippine numbers start with +63 for landlines and mobile phones.
- Use call-blocking features on Android and iOS or download third-party spam filter apps.
Smart also encourages users to report scam calls by dialing *888. Staying cautious can help prevent unnecessary charges and keep customers safe from phone scams.
