One-Ring Scam

A phone-based fraud scheme where scammers make brief calls to trick victims into calling back premium-rate numbers

One-Ring Scam is a telephone fraud scheme where scammers place brief, single-ring calls to potential victims, enticing them to call back numbers that charge premium rates or lead to fraud attempts.

Tactics Used

  • Missed calls
  • International numbers
  • Late night calls
  • Multiple attempts
  • Area code spoofing

Common Patterns

  • Single ring
  • Unknown numbers
  • International prefixes
  • Urgent timing
  • Mass targeting

Warning Signs

  • Unknown callers
  • International numbers
  • Brief rings
  • Multiple attempts
  • Odd hours

Prevention Methods

  • Number verification
  • Call blocking
  • Awareness training
  • Provider alerts
  • Contact validation

Best Practices

  • Ignore unknown calls
  • Research numbers
  • Block suspicious calls
  • Report incidents
  • Provider notification

One-Ring Scams exploit curiosity and urgency to generate unauthorized premium charges.