| Millions of mobile phone users are being subjected | | | | On returning the call, the owner of the targeted |
| to a new wave of money making scams | | | | mobile phone is redirected to a premium rate |
| currently being carried out by a number of rouge | | | | telephone service and increasingly without his/her |
| agents set on taking advantage on the curiosity | | | | knowledge. The scammers then take this |
| of the individuals they target. | | | | opportunity and ensure that the maximum |
| The "Missed Call" scam is very basic and | | | | amount of money is made from the call by |
| extremely effective, dependant on no more than | | | | entering into a lengthy conversation, generally |
| a return call from those mobile phone users | | | | relating to some bogus prize or competition. |
| trusting enough to believe that someone is trying | | | | Often, it is not until the monthly statement |
| to contact them for genuine reasons. | | | | arrives that the targeted individual realises that his |
| So how does it work? - A computer is set up to | | | | her phone has been subjected to a "Missed Call" |
| pick numbers from a list and calls them | | | | scam and charged excessive rates for the |
| automatically. After one ring the computer hangs | | | | privilege. |
| up and the targeted handset indicates that a call | | | | At present there appears to be no immediate |
| has been missed. At this point completion of the | | | | action which those exposed to this scam can |
| scam relies on the owner of the mobile phone | | | | take to ensure that others do not suffer the |
| returning the call shown as missed on his/her | | | | same fate. |
| handset. | | | | The best way to prevent this scam is to apply |
| Curiosity is the key factor on which the success | | | | caution, and only return missed calls to those |
| of this scam has been based, and the scammers | | | | numbers you recognise. And remember, if |
| know that a large percentage of phone users will | | | | someone is genuinely trying to get hold of you, |
| almost always return a missed call simply to find | | | | they'll call again. |
| out the origin and purpose of it. | | | | |