In recent months, the Civil Guard has concentrated again on a telephone scam which, although not new, continues to cause chaos: the “Wangiri” fraud. This scam, which has been perfected over time, is based on a simple but effective technique that appeals directly to the user’s curiosity. It all starts with A call lost by an unknown international number. The victim, seeing the call, decides to return it without knowing that he has just fallen into a trap.
What happens after is what makes this deception a serious problem. When returning the call, the phone connects with a special number of fans, which implies immediate charge on the invoice. Often eThese costs are disproportionate, even if the call has barely lasted a few seconds. Many users do not discover the fraud until they control their invoice and detect unusual amounts.
This type of fraud has been associated mainly with calls with international prefixes which, at first glance, may seem legitimate. However, behind codes such as +355, +225, +233 or +234, which correspond to countries such as Albania, Ivory Coast, Ghana or Nigeria, respectively, the scammers’ networks are hidden that exploit ingenuity or ignorance. Also in the national territory, the numbers that begin +803, +806 or +807 can transport positions for special such.
Extreme caution
The authorities recommend extreme caution before any unknown call, especially if it comes from abroad. If a suspect call is received which is cut instantly, the most prudent is not to return it. Some cell phones already have integrated tools that warn potentially dangerous calls, which can be a precious ally to prevent fraud.
If he has already been the victim of the “Wangiri” or Of any other type of telephone scam, such as vishing or “spoofing”, it is essential to act quickly. The reporting of the fact in front of the police or approximately can be the key to stopping this type of crime and preventing other users from being affected. It is also advisable to maintain tests such as screens, invoices and call records. Prevention remains the best defense against this type of increasingly frequent threats.
