A new scam involving “one ring” of a cellphone could end up causing unauthorized charges appearing on monthly wireless statements, according to a new report from the Better Business Bureau.
The “ring and runs” on cellphones have occurred when someone from an unknown number calls, allows the phone to ring once, but then stops. Curious people will return the call to try and find out who it is, and instead are billed just under $20 for the international call fee.
Callers may hear music, then advertising, while they are unknowingly connected to a caller-paid toll service or chat line located outside the country that could cost up to $9 per minute. They typically carry area codes from the Caribbean island like 809, 876, 284, 473 and 767.
The practice of third parties placing unauthorized charges on wireless accounts is known as “cramming.” Those who have fallen for this scam are urged to alert their cellphone carriers immediately, and keep an eye on cellphone bills. The earlier such fraud is caught, the better the chances of having some or all of the charges removed.
The BBB offers the following tips:
• When in doubt, don’t pick up or call back. If the number is not recognized, and it’s out of state, ignore it.
• Understand mobile bills. Be sure to keep track of what services are typically paid for, so that anything out of the ordinary can be quickly identified.
• Keep a close eye on monthly statements. Anyone can become a victim of bill cramming. Monitoring bills is the best way to determine whether such things are occurring. The sooner unexpected charges are spot, the sooner they can be stopped.
• Add restrictions to phone accounts. Contact service providers to see about restricting third-party billing.
• Inform other users on mobile phone plan. It’s important to let other friends and family members on the same plan know about the scam, so they, too, can ignore phone numbers they do not recognize.
