Telephone scams are still on the agenda and the “Ping Call” phenomenon is not new in terms of phone scams. In fact, the first news of this phenomenon dates back to 2002. But it nevertheless continues to affect a good number of consumers with increasingly cunning techniques. At a time when many scams are spreading like wildfire, this scam marks its big comeback with a new trick.
This old scam is back in the spotlight
This scam is not new. In fact, it has existed for many years. But the national police recently launched an alert on its website against these “scammers who use new tricks to trick you into calling back”. And, among other things, the use of numbers which now seem “normal”.
The scammers' modus operandi is as follows: the user receives very brief calls from numbers and, driven by curiosity or doubt that it is something important, tries to call back.
Those who manage to answer these calls find only silence on the other end of the line and feel attacked. The doubt intensifies and some call back to find out what it is. And this is where the “Ping Call” scam begins!
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This scam also involves the name “wangiri”. It derives from a Japanese expression which designates the action of ringing and hanging up.
You will have understood, this is not an error or a bug. This is quite simply the “ping call” or “wangiri” scam.. This scam is not new, but it has been making a comeback for some time. And, in reality, the authors of this scam only aim for one thing: to push you to call back a premium rate number.
But what changes this time is the modus operandi. Indeed, if, a few years ago, entry numbers began with 09 or 08, the “Scammers are using new tricks to trick you into calling back”explains the national police, that South West relayed. The latter reports that these are numbers “normal”.
Scammers change codes
Like the majority of scams, this time again, they try by all means to gain confidence in their targets. And this time using of telephone numbers with much more common area codes.
-“In order not to arouse the distrust of their victims, scammers now make their calls from numbers in 01, 02, 04″alerts, in fact, the national police.
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After this step, the scammers ask you to call back a premium rate number that begins with “0899”. To lure their targets, they promise you gifts, vouchers or discounts which, of course, do not exist.
In reality, all the authors of this type of scam have only one and the same objective: keep you online as long as possible to extract the most money from you. As the number is premium rate, at the end of the month, the telephone bill may be very high! In fact, wangiri can cost up to between 1.5 and 2 euros… per second!
How to protect yourself from this scam?
In simple terms: you should never call a number you do not know. And even more so if the call comes from abroad. Never and under any circumstances! Already in this way, you can be sure to avoid the vast majority of risks.
However, there are other ways to defend yourself further. This time using technology. Indeed, over the years, the two main smartphone operating systems (Android and iOS) have created countermeasures to combat these phenomena.
Finally, the national police recommend reporting this type of fraudulent calls via an SMS service. Just send « spam vocal » to 33700 without forgetting, of course, to include the number that contacted you. Also think about the unique numberfrom “Scam info”: 08 11 02 02 17.
