The next time you receive a "missed call" alert from a China number starting with +86 on your mobile phone, think twice before rushing to return it - unless you know the caller.
Or you may literally play into the hands of a racket, believed to be operating out of China. And end up having to pay a very high charge, as the call is redirected to a premium rate telephone service.
On returning the number, the caller is then told he has won a prize and stands to win a higher chance by calling a second number. If the caller falls for this, he will be charged a premium rate for the second call too.
The victim ends up facing a hefty phone bill for the calls.
For example, callers from Australia who have been dubed were charged A$2.97 a minute for returned calls.
SourceSomeone might call them spams, but I’ll rather call them scams. They call you up — usually with a 03 or 028 number — but then hang up after one ring. Those who are curious might call back the number, expecting a real person to answer the phone. Instead they’ll find themselves greeted by a recorded message, with scams that might cost them more later on.
I won’t be surprised that everything is automated, and the scam numbers are probably connected with VoIP DID which can be cheaply purchased. You probably can even buy those “scam-kit” on eBay if you look hard enough. They will just install the software, sign up VoIP deals with voice mail and DID number, click on that big button reads SCAM & EARN $$$, and wait for people to fall into the trap. They can even be operated from overseas, be that Indonesia or Nigeria — everything just routes through the Internet anyway. It does not cost them anything (besides DID which has a low monthly cost). No wonder it is getting more and more popular.
SourceThat is just what the scammers are banking on: the messages are designed to make you believe you've already won a competition.
Assurances are given that your prize will be worth at least $40. Then there is the promise of a Carribbean holiday if you stay on the line a little longer.
But both claims are false. All the while your phone bill is clocking up about $3 per minute.
Navid Smith is furious his wife's phone was targetted in Sydney. He said only two people had her number.
"So if they are calling these numbers, if 1,000 or 10,000 people are calling these numbers across Australia, how much money are they going to be making?"
"Think about the $2.97 a minute, that's not cheap and you're not actually getting anything at the end of it."
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