A Missed Call from an Overseas Number Might be a Scam in S’pore

By
Goody Feed Team
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Last Updated on 2018-07-17 , 6:22 pm

Imagine this: you left your phone in your handbag, and when you took it out, you saw a missed call from an overseas number.

Thinking that it could be someone important, you called back, only to hear some recorded voice speaking in some foreign language.

You tried communicating but gave up after a few minutes.

Days later, you receive your bill and were shocked to see a “premium call” that cost well over $20 per minute. You thought there was a mistake, but then remembered the call you’ve made that day.

You’ve just become a victim of a Wangiri Scam.

Known also as the “hang up scam”, the modus operandi of the scammer is this: Using a computerised system, they’ll make calls to thousands of people daily with just one ring.

Anyone who calls back is apparently calling a “premium line”—you know, like those donation hotlines we call to donate to charity. The longer you stay on the line, the more they will charge.

In case you’re wondering whether this is in Singapore, here’s the bad news: Yes, it is.

In fact, a few of us have received these calls on our phones, but we were all aware of this scam. This scam is so “established” in Singapore that even the Wikipedia page about Wangiri Scam wrote about Singapore having its own unique version.

According to scamalert.sg, there are now new versions of this scam. One is a voicemail left on the victim’s phone for him or her to call back, claiming that they’re from the hospital or police, and another is a WhatsApp message with a number to call back.

As you can see from both instances, they all require you to call a number. In other words, the best way to prevent being scammed is to do these:

  1. Do not call back an international number that just rings once
  2. Do not call back an international number that you do not recognise or have not been there before
  3. If you really think it’s someone you know, Google the number as someone might have posted the number online to warn others about the scam

While it’s 2018 now and it might not be common nowadays compared to, say, one or two years back, it’s still good to know because it’s one hell of a scam, isn’t it?

Remember, nowadays, with technology, thefts and robberies no longer require a physical person, so the only best defence is yourself.

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Goody Feed Team
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