571-348-8427, SPAM CALL - In a longtime calling scam, crooks leave voice message asking you to call back a specific number because you have won a sweepstakes, won a cruise, credit card services or have an deliverable package. Now they simply program calls to smart phones/home phones to ring only once or disconnect when you answer. Your curiosity over a missed call alert results in you spending upwards of $30 to call back. The reason: Despite a seemingly American area code, the call is to an international phone number - often in the Caribbean, that charges a premium connection fee and per minute rate which is extended through long holds and frequent transfers. You might also find charges crammed into your phone bill with such innocuous language as “special services,” “Internet advertising” or “minimum monthly usage fee.” What to know: BEWARE of any unfamiliar calls – one ring or otherwise – especially with area codes 268, 284, 473, 649, 571, 664, 767, 809, 829, 849 or 876. DO NOT return these calls under any circumstances. JUST delete/block them immediately. If you are getting texts on a cell phone, forward any suspicious texts to 7726 (“SPAM” on most keypads) to alert your carrier to those numbers, and then delete them.
571-348-8427, SPAM CALL - In a longtime calling scam, crooks leave voice message asking you to call back a specific number because you have won a sweepstakes, won a cruise, credit card services or have an deliverable package. Now they simply program calls to smart phones/home phones to ring only once or disconnect when you answer. Your curiosity over a missed call alert results in you spending upwards of $30 to call back. The reason: Despite a seemingly American area code, the call is to an international phone number - often in the Caribbean, that charges a premium connection fee and per minute rate which is extended through long holds and frequent transfers. You might also find charges crammed into your phone bill with such innocuous language as “special services,” “Internet advertising” or “minimum monthly usage fee.” What to know: BEWARE of any unfamiliar calls – one ring or otherwise – especially with area codes 268, 284, 473, 649, 571, 664, 767, 809, 829, 849 or 876. DO NOT return these calls under any circumstances. JUST delete/block them immediately. If you are getting texts on a cell phone, forward any suspicious texts to 7726 (“SPAM” on most keypads) to alert your carrier to those numbers, and then delete them.
Took my own advice and reread the fcc.gov notice. I erred when I wrote "international pay-per-call phone numbers are being disguised with domestic area codes." The FCC warning actually says of these calls: "Your wireless phone rings once or twice and then disconnects the call. When the number appears in your wireless phone log as a missed call, it appears to be a typical domestic telephone number.... [snip] When you dial the three-digit area code plus the number, however, you are connected to a phone number outside the United States, often in Canada or the Caribbean, and are charged expensive international call rates, and may be charged for pay-per-call services as well." To avoid this scam, the FCC recommends checking any unfamiliar area codes before returning calls. While 571 is a Virginia area code (which is not to comment on the "safety" of returning this call), the one ring scam still looks to be something one ought to be wary of.