Wangiri Fraud, meaning "one ring and cut" in Japanese, is a phone scam where fraudsters make brief calls that disconnect before answering, hoping victims will call back premium-rate numbers, generating charges that benefit the scammers.
Key Methods
- Missed call generation
- Premium number setup
- Mass calling systems
- International numbers
- Automated dialers
Warning Signs
- Single-ring calls
- Unknown numbers
- International prefixes
- Multiple missed calls
- Unusual timing
Target Patterns
- Random number selection
- Sequential dialing
- Geographic targeting
- Time-based attacks
- Mobile focus
Prevention Measures
- Number blocking
- Call screening
- Carrier alerts
- User education
- Pattern detection
Best Practices
- Don't return unknown calls
- Block suspicious numbers
- Report incidents
- Check prefixes
- Verify numbers
Wangiri Fraud continues to evolve with technology, requiring ongoing vigilance from both telecommunications providers and consumers.