Telecommunications frauds

The authorities have warned against nuisance calls that play automated messages before a user. Some bogus callers hang the phone up immediately in the hope of getting a response, and when the user responds, they are charged a premium rate for it. 

Some may convey messages impersonating post offices or delivery agents who send complicated communications to extract money from the user. For example, they impersonate a tax officer, threaten legal action against unpaid bills, or want the user to get their tax refund claims. 

They use number spoofing to hide their real location, and the victim assumes it is from a landline or local mobile number, but it can be fearful if someone tells you to owe money to the FBI or the Revenue.

Some indulge in data breaches and extract information from users’ devices. For example, individuals and businesses have been getting nasty calls claiming they ordered merchandise and need to pay the bills, or they get links that redirect the devices to ransomware pages. 

If a user blocks a number, they use another to offer some fake scheme, tariff discounts, early upgrades, or seek a fee to send the award you won in a competition. 

How To Protect Yourself?

• Do not reply to an unknown number. If the caller has a unique private ID, the area code is new, or the incoming number appears different from the regular ones, hang up immediately. 

• If unknown numbers send multiple trade messages, ignore them. Do not respond, confirm, or show your interest in their offers. 

• Never provide account details to unidentified callers who indulge in extreme pressure tactics to extract funds or information from the client. For example - they may tell someone in your family who requires it, or they explain to the customer about a new courier service from their bank and want you to give details to receive the package.