BY Ogone Mothoagae, FB
This scam from the mid-2000โs seems to be making a sneaky come back and it appears they have gotten their hands on some BW numbers database. Quite a few people have fallen victim this year already. Beware!
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐จ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค?
โข The scammer hires an international premium rate number (IPRN) from a Mobile Network company (MNO).
โข Next, through the number they give you whatโs called a โone ring and cutโ i.e.: one ring and then disconnect the call.
โข Thinking you missed an important call (what with it being international!!), you feel inclined to call back the same number and ((BOOM)) youโve caught the bait!
โข Once the call connects either one of two things happens: a) thereโs not answer OR b) elevator music plays (to keep you on longer/run the clock on you).
โข Eventually (maybe a minute later), out of frustration youโll hang up. BUT at this point itโs too late as you wouldโve lost quite a tonne of airtime (cash). Note: youโve not only called an international number but one that is specifically premium rate (IPRN).
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ง?
โข They make a commission from the phone companies whose premium rate number they use to scam. Noting that it could be anything from $1 per call, the math truly mathsย ๐ย - if you get a good enough sample of victims.
๐๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐ค?
โข Unfortunately not. You cannot get the money back as it is already charged for the call that you made yourself. The scammer simply offers you a bait and you take itย ๐. You make the call in response to the missed call on your own will. So, the local phone networks are legally allowed to collect the charges from you.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐!
I could go through a Schpiel but the short of it is:
โข Do not pick any call that is coming from other countries where the phone number is unrecognized.
โข ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐!
#besafe